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Research Basics

A Guide to Academic Research at Dugan Library

Locating Books

Once you find a print book in the catalog, it is time to locate the book in the library. To find a book, pay attention to the call number and item status.

Catalog Entry
Example print book in the library catalog

Call Number – Gives the physical location for where a book is shelved.

Item Status – Lets you know if a book is on the shelf, currently checked out, or non-circulating (available for in library use but can't be checked out).

Additional Location Information – Some items might be in a specific collection that will be shelved separately from the main stacks on the second floor of the library. Some examples to look for:

  • Newman Collection – The Newman Collection is Dugan Library's collection of materials on St. John Henry Newman and is located on the first floor of the library. The example above is from the Newman Collection, as noted in the item entry.
  • Reference Collection – The reference book collection is on the first floor of the library and is mostly non-circulating. Look for call numbers with an REF prefix.

Reading Call Numbers

PQ
1642
.E5
2003
C. 2

Read the first line in alphabetical order: A, B, BV, C, D ... P, PQ, Q, R, RC ...

Read the second line as a whole number: 1, 2, 3, 56, 100, 101, 1000, 2000, 3492 ...

The third line is a combination of a letter and number(s).
First, read the letter alphabetically.
Then, read the number as a decimal: .C65 = .65, .F724 = .724

The fourth line is the publication date. Multiple publications of the same title are arranged chronologically.

The final line (if present) indicates additional info, such as volume or copy number.

Note: Call numbers are read line by line, top to bottom.