Answered By: Emily Goodspeed
Last Updated: Sep 08, 2025     Views: 66

The SUNY Adirondack Library's books are organized using the Library of Congress Classification system

The call number (on the label on the side of a book) is a code for a subject, essentially. This allows materials to be grouped together into subject categories, so similar items are near each other on the library’s shelves. It's similar to the Dewey Decimal System, but a little more specific in its subject coverage. It can be more precise because it uses a combination of both letters and numbers as codes for the subjects. 

Here's a breakdown of the Library of Congress call number system, below.

If you're looking for novels and other fiction books, cruise through the P call number, where the literature books are.

Ask a librarian for advice at any point.