1. Library of Congress Call Numbers: A Quick & Active Learning Tool Ada L. Woods S. Lisa Sweeney woods@towson.edu Albert S. Cook Library Towson University – April 2009

2. Instructor’s slide PE 1421.T78 ? ? Library of Congress is a new code for almost all freshmen. Does anyone (other than a librarian) know that the dot before the T is a decimal point? This 3-minute activity fits the limited teaching time. The PowerPoint format permits the instructor to alter the pace to fit the students’ needs. Could be used after University of Arkansas’s “How to Read a Call Number” tutorial.How to Read a Call Number

3. Instructor’s slide Concepts A single letter shelves before a double letter. The dot is a decimal point even when it’s in front of a letter..M59 shelves before.M6 A number without a decimal shelves before the same number with a decimal The number of display lines on the spine is not important. See “notes” frame at bottom of many slides for more details. Use the “In Perfect Order” slide to explain these concepts.

4. Instructor’s slide Activities Ask students to call out the color of the next call number. Solve disagreements with a show of hands before displaying the correct answer. After the PowerPoint the students will find the book that matches a call number that they located earlier by using the catalog. On their worksheet they will record the title of the book that sits to the RIGHT of their book. (This part of the larger library assignment proves both that they can find a book and that they have experienced the value of browsing the library collection.)

5. Library of Congress Call Numbers: Avoid the Sand Traps Ada L. Woods S. Lisa Sweeney Albert S. Cook Library Towson University

6. In Perfect Order L 21.A6 B4 LB 11.A59 B4 LB 11.A59 B4 c. 2 LB 11.A6 B4 2005

7. What color will shelve first? BF 173.F85 C73 1986 B 1623.B34 2003 BF 173.F85 L38 BF 692.C52

8. Which one is second? BF 173.F85 C73 1986 B 1623.B34 2003 BF 173.F85 L38 BF 692.C52 B 1623.B34 2003

9. Which are third & fourth? BF 173.F85 C73 1986 B 1623.B34 2003 BF 173.F85 L38 BF 692.C52 B 1623.B34 2003 BF 173.F85 C73 1986

10. BF 173.F85 C73 1986 B 1623.B34 2003 BF 173.F85 L38 BF 692.C52 B 1623.B34 2003 BF 173.F85 C73 1986 BF 173.F85 L38 BF 692.C52

11. One more time RJ 506.6.A9 B6713 RJ 506.A9 C6 1984 RJ 506.A9 C53 RJ 506.A9 D46

12. First RJ 506.6.A9 B6713 RJ 506.A9 C6 1984 RJ 506.A9 C53 RJ 506.A9 D46 RJ 506.A9 C53

13. Second RJ 506.6.A9 B6713 RJ 506.A9 C6 1984 RJ 506.A9 C53 RJ 506.A9 D46 RJ 506.A9 C53 RJ 506.A9 C6 1984

14. RJ 506.6.A9 B6713 RJ 506.A9 C6 1984 RJ 506.A9 C53 RJ 506.A9 D46 RJ 506.A9 C53 RJ 506.A9 C6 1984 RJ 506.A9 D46 RJ 506.6.A9 B6713