How Libraries are Organized

Academic Library Libraries at colleges and universities Serve the study and research needs of the faculty and students through collections (materials) and services

Types of Material Books Journals, magazines, newspapers (periodicals) Microforms Documents Maps Media (films, music, slides) Electronic Manuscripts Photographs

Areas within a Library Reference Book Stacks Periodicals Newspapers & Microforms Government Publications Maps Special Collections

Types of Services Reference help and consultations Research instruction Interlibrary loans Copy centers Computer labs

Library Classification Systems Each book is given a unique number (call number) to indicate its location The subject matter of the book and the author’s name determine the call number Material on the same subject is shelved together to facilitate browsing

Two Call Number Systems Dewey Decimal all knowledge is divided into 10 broad categories Uses numbers World War I 940s Library of Congress all knowledge is divided into 20 broad categories Uses letters A-Z World War I D501 – D680

UW Libraries 17 Libraries Seattle campus – 15 Tacoma & Bothell 2 Classification systems Dewey Library of Congress (LC) Suzzallo and Allen Libraries