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University Library

Children's Literature and Resources

Education Librarian

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Kimberly Franklin
Contact:
Kimberly Y. Franklin, PhD
Education Librarian
University Library
LN 2020B
California State University, Los Angeles

Office hours (including remote via Zoom): Thursday 2pm-4pm and by appointment on other weekdays
Email me at kfrankl@calstatela.edu
Website
Subjects: Education

Reading Dewey call numbers

The Children's Literature collection in the University Library is shelved in Dewey Decimal System order. Below is an example of how to read a Dewey call number.

How to read a dewey call number.

Image Source: Sierra College Library, https://www.sierracollege.edu/library/searchpath/glossary/callnumber.html

Example call number: 

333.79

S641

Read numbers digit by digit. Read the number after the decimal as a decimal: .79 comes before .8. "Nothing" comes before something; .1 comes before .11. The second line of the call number is a combination of letters and numbers. Read the letter alphabetically and the number as a decimal. Sometimes there is a date at the end of a call number. Read dates chronologically.

Can't find a book on the shelf? Please contact the library service desk (323-343-3988).

Other relevant research guides

Off-campus access to databases

John F. Kennedy Memorial Library
California State University, Los Angeles
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032-8300
323-343-3988