Galvin Library has both fiction (such as novels) and nonfiction books. We use the Library of Congress Classification system to organize books by subject.
Guidelines:
Example of call numbers in order:
These three books would appear like this on the shelves:
Some of the most common questions librarians receive are "Where are all your fiction books?" and "I need books about [insert any major here], where are they?" If you've ever had these questions or wondered how the call number system works, read on.
Galvin Library uses the Library of Congress classification system. This system arranges books according to a book's primary subject, and assigns each book a unique "call number" used to locate the book on the shelf. So, if you'd like to browse the shelves for a topic, check the Library of Congress list of classification numbers. Just note that there might be relevant books about your topic categorized elsewhere, so search the catalog, too.
Fiction and literature are also categorized in the system, but are located in a few different places. For fiction, check these locations:
The following list shows you some of the most popular sections of the Library of Congress used by IIT. To see a more detailed list, including all the categories, click here.
B: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion
BF: Psychology
E: United States History
F: United States Local History
F536 - F550: Illinois
G: Geography, Anthropology, Recreation
GE: Environmental sciences
GF: Human ecology
H: Social Sciences
HA: Statistics
HD: Industries, Land use, Labor
HF: Commerce
HG: Finance
HQ: The family, marriage, and women
HT: Communities, classes, races
J: Political Science
JC: Political theory
JF-JQ: Public administration
L: Education
LB: Theory and practice of education
N: Fine Arts
NA: Architecture
P: Language and Literature
PN: General literature
PR: English literature
PS: American literature
PZ: Fiction and juvenile literature
Q: Science
QA: Mathematics
QA76: Computer software
QB: Astronomy
QC: Physics
QD: Chemistry
QE: Geology
QL: Zoology
QM: Human anatomy
QR: Microbiology
R: Medicine
T: Technology
TA: Engineering, Civil Engineering (General)
TD: Environmental Technology, Sanitary Engineering
TE: Highway Engineering, Roads and Pavements
TG: Bridge engineering
TH: Building construction
TJ: Mechanical engineering and machinery
TK: Electrical engineering
TK5101-TK6720: Telecommunications
TL: Motor Vehicles, Aeronautics, Astronautics
TN: Mining engineering, Metallurgy
TP: Chemical technology, Chemical engineering