Book Location Guide

What is a Call Number?

Each library book is given a call number according to the subject matter of the work under the Library of Congress Classification System. A call number is usually placed on the spine label of a library book, and it is also listed in the library's online catalog, indicating the book's location in the library. Once you find the call number of the book that you are looking for, you may use the following location guide or stack maps to find the book. If you need help, please contact the Circulation Desk on the First Floor of the Library.

In addition to the circulation collection on the 3rd and 4th floors, there are other collections in different locations in the library. These locations are indicated in the call number on the book, and in the library’s online catalog for the book:

Reference Collection: Second Floor
Special Collection: First Floor—Circulation Desk
Faculty Collection: First Floor—Circulation Desk
New Jersey City University Theses Collection: First Floor—Circulation Desk
Periodicals Collection: Second Floor
Video/DVD Collection: Second Floor
Juvenile Literature Collection: Third Floor

What is the Library of Congress Classification System?

The majority of books for circulation are organized according to the Library of Congress Classification system. The system organizes the main divisions of knowledge by letters:

Letter Main Division

A General Works

B Philosophy, Psychology, and Religion

C History—Auxiliary Sciences

D History

E-F American History
G Geography—Anthropology

H Social Sciences

J Political Sciences

K Law

L Education

M Music

N Fine Arts

P Language and Literature

Q Sciences

R Medicine

S Agriculture

T Technology

U Military Science

V Naval Science

Z Bibliography and Library Science

Subdivisions in the Library of Congress classification system are made by the addition of a second letter and whole numbers.

Last updated: 6/6/2024