How to Find Print Books: Use a Call Number to Locate a Book (Illustrated)

How do you locate a single book among the hundreds of thousands in the library? This guide will show you how.

- LOCATE THIS PRINT BOOK IN THE LIBRARY -

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond

3rd Floor HM206 .D48 2005

USE A CALL NUMBER TO LOCATE A BOOK

Check the online map of the 3rd floor for the location of the H section. It shows that the H section is to the right as you exit the elevator. Take the elevator to the 3rd floor then head for the first row of books indicated by the green arrow in the photo.

View when turning right out of the elevators on the 3rd floor. A green arrow points to the first row of books.

The first row of books is labeled HD. Go down the rows to the left alphabetically to HM.

The first row of books is the HD section.

This row of books is HF. Keep going to the left!

Here is the first row of HM books. The small signs (green arrows) tell you that the call number of the first book on the left side is HM131 .G58 and the call number of the first book on the right side is HM22 .G3 W4576. The numbers after the first two letters (131 and 22) are too low. You need HM206.

The first row of HM books. Green arrows point to two small call number signs.

According to the small call number signs, the next row to your left only has HM books on its right side. The left side is the first row of HN books. The call numbers on the right side start with HM261 .K4 so HM206 will be somewhere down this row. Start checking call numbers down the right side of this row.

The next row of books has HM on one side and HN on the other.

These books have call numbers beginning with HM263.

These books have call numbers beginning with HM273. The numbers are getting higher; you need to go lower. Turn around and check the call numbers behind you.