How do I locate books and articles?

The Vanderbilt library uses the Library of Congress Classification system when assigning call numbers to books. A call number is an address which determines the book (or other item's) location on the shelf

When using Acorn, the Vanderbilt library catalog, a call number usually accompanies the record of an item. In the catalog, the call number appears on one line.

For example, for the book, High and mighty: SUVs - the world's most dangerous vehicles and how they got that way, in Acorn, the call number would look like this:

Acorn Screen Display Explanation

SCIENCE
This represents the Vanderbilt library in which the title can be found. In this instance, the Science and Engineering Library.

*Please note that there are 9 libraries in Vanderbilt's Heard Library System and 3 campus collections listed as VU-Centers. Be sure to make a note of the library and location for the title found before you visit the library to look for the item.

MATERIAL
This represents the type of item (book, periodical, video, AV) found.

LOCATION
This represents the location within the library where the item is located. In this example, the item is in the Science stacks. If you are unsure of the location, please ask library staff for assistance.

CALL NUMBER (under the library name)
This provides the specific location of the item on the shelf. In the Acorn record, it is listed directly underneath the name of the library where the item is located. For books, the call number is usually found on a label at the bottom of a book's spine.

The parts of a call number:

TL -- The first part of the call number is alphabetic. To find it, locate the T section, and then the part within it labelled TL. For example, TL would come before TM and after TK.

230.5 -- The second part is numeric and should be read as a whole number. The numbers may or may not have decimal points; but when they do, treat them as such. For example, TL 230.5 comes before TL 230.6 and TL 230 comes before TL 231.

.S66 -- This part has to be read in two ways; first alphabetically, then numerically. This time the number should be read as a decimal!

• TL 230.5 .S66 would be located between TL230.5 .R and TL 230.5 .T, for example.
• TL 230.5 .S66 would be somewhere between TL 230.5 .S60 and TL 230.5 .S70.

2002 -- This number indicates the year; generally the year of publication for that particular volume. This number is part of the call number, so don't forget it!

On the actual item, the call number will usually appear on a label like this:
TL 230.5 .S66 B73 2002

Prepared for the Jean and Alexander Heard Library, Vanderbilt University

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to MIT Libraries for granting permission to modify and use their "Information Navigator" tutorial.