Academic Library Overview

Libraries store, organize, and provide tools to access information of all types

People visit libraries to find information or get help with research

Using the library requires an understanding of specific terminology and organizational schemes

“A library should be like a pair of open arms” Roger Rosenblatt

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1 Main Library Areas

¾ Reference Desk and Area: Reference books (encyclopedias, bibliographies, indexes, almanacs etc.). Cannot be checked out of the library. Reference desk librarians available to assist you with research problems ¾ Circulation Desk Borrow books, check out laptops for use in the library.... ¾ Library Stacks or Shelves Circulating books. Shelved in subject order. Can be checked out of the library at the circulation desk. Special area for oversize books.

¾ Periodicals Desk Periodicals (journals, magazines, newspapers in print, microform, microfiche). Generally cannot be checked out of the library. Articles need to be copied or printed. LIR10 Week 1

Main Library Areas

¾ Media Services Audiovisual materials (CDs, videotapes, DVDs etc.). Can be checked out of the library.

¾ Reserve Desk Reserve materials (items that can only be checked out for a short time or restricted to library use only). Reading materials placed on reserve by instructors for a specific class.

¾ Inter Library Loan Materials borrowed from other libraries.

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2 New Library Floorplan: http://www.santarosa.edu/library/about/doylemaps.shtml LIR10 Week 1

Organization and Classification

Libraries specialize in ORGANIZING large collections of information HOW?

CONTROLLED VOCABULARY A list of standardized, specific terms or words that describe and organize a collection of some kind

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3 Can you think of situations where controlled vocabulary is used?

Yellow pages Medical coding Netflix

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What is the best way for libraries to organize information?

By Author? By Color? By Size? By Title? By Subject?

¾ A classification system makes materials easy to find. Most libraries group their materials by SUBJECT

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4 Subject Organization Systems

Library of Congress (LC) Frequently used in academic libraries Uses a system of letters and numbers to represent subject areas

Dewey Decimal Mostly used in public libraries Uses a system of numbers to represent subject areas

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Library of Congress (LC) Dewey Decimal

A General Works B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion C Auxiliary Sciences of History D World History And History of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Etc. E History of the Americas F History of the Americas G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation H Social Sciences J Political Science KLaw LEducation M Music and Books on Music NFine Arts P Language and Literature Q Science RMedicine SAgriculture T Technology U Military Science VNaval Science Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources LIR10 Week 1

5 LC Subject Headings

¾ The system used by the JC library (and most other academic libraries) is the Library of Congress Classification System. The SUBJECTS for classification are agreed upon by cataloguers and then listed in “Big Red Books” called Library of Congress Subject Heading Books.

http://www.lib.duke.edu/libguide/fi_books_sh.htm#brb LIR10 Week 1

How the Library of Congress classification system works

¾ Subjects are divided into 21 general "topic" areas and arbitrarily assigned an alphabet letter • Example N is FINE ARTS Q is SCIENCE

¾ These general areas are then subdivided into more specific subject categories • Example NA is ARCHITECTURE QB is ASTRONOMY

LC Classification System LIR10 Week 1

6 Call Numbers

¾ Call numbers are essential for finding books in a library and are based on the LC Subject Classification System. ¾ Each book has a unique call number on the spine

¾ The first letters of the call number contain the same alphabet letters that are assigned to the books' subject area

¾ The call number indicates exactly where on the shelf the book is located.

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How to Read a Call Number

The first two letters of a call number provide the NA general location of the book (each shelf in the library is marked with a particular letter or letters). "

682 The next part of the call number is in numeric order.

Alpha then numeric usually based on the author’s last .P67 name. NOTE: the number is DECIMAL so P7 comes AFTER P67.

S74 Alpha then numeric (decimal).

Call number for a book entitled: "Architecture Today”

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7 Organize these books!! 2346 1 5 ML GR JK 410 NC B ML 105 585 .B8 435 72 472 .P88 .B68 B65 .B84 .A34 .A34

7 10 12 8911

QA SH TH QD TH QL 39.2 348 435 101.2 435 336 .S52 .C35 .B9 .H37 .B84 .C57

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