Library catalog history
Photo of card catalog from OSU Archives on Flickr.
Photo of card catalog index card by dfulmer on Flickr.
Using call numbers to find books
Books and journals are arranged on our shelves according to the Library of Congress (LC) classification system. Each is assigned a unique call number based on its subject matter and other characteristics. Items on the same subject will often be grouped together.
Each call number consists of several elements. In using a call number to locate a book on the shelf, consider each element in turn before moving on to the next segment.
These call numbers are arranged as they should appear on the shelves. In each case, the element shown in boldface distinguishes the number from the preceding one:
| Q 76 K26 |
QA 17 F75 |
QA 17.1 C98 |
TK 3 Z37 |
TK 29 M49 |
TK 29 M5 1997 |
TK 29 M5 2007 |
Searching Library Catalogs
Use OskiCat to locate materials on the shelves of the UC Berkeley libraries and also to:
- renew books online
- find course reserves and to
- place holds on items that are checked out.
Use Melvyl to locate materials at other campuses in the UC system, or worldwide, and also to
- request materials from another library if we don't own it
- find articles from some article databases
- easily format a citation for copying into a bibliography Melvyl will also show you the location and availablity of items that we own.
Oskicat Tips
- Search for author's name using the author search, e.g., Albenda, Pauline
- Search for topics using a keyword search, e.g., china secondary education
- Limit results by language (Modify search)
- You can browse topics using the Subject links.
- Use My Oskicat to view your library account and renew books
- Use the Request button to:
- page books in NRLF and
- recall books that are checked out
- Be persistent!