Books at the Marine Resources Library (MRL) are cataloged and shelved according to the Library of Congress (LC) system.  The call number you see on the spine label is made up of numbers and letters displayed on four to seven lines.  Following is a brief explanation of each line of the call number you will see on books at the MRL.

Line 1: Because this library is supported by three agencies, our call numbers include additional information to indicate who owns the book.  The first line of the call number is not actually part of the Library of Congress classification and has nothing to do with the location of the book; it indicates which agency owns the book.  It may be Ft.J indicating College of Charleston, MRRI indicating South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, or N.Fish indicating NOAA owns the book.

Line 2: The actual call number begins with the second line of letters on the spine label.  These letters at the beginning of each call number correspond with a particular subject.  For instance, books with call numbers beginning with the letter G deal with geography, those beginning with the letter Q deal with science, and those beginning with the letter S deal with agriculture.   Many call numbers will begin with two letters because that indicates a more specific subject.  For example call numbers beginning with the letters GC deal with oceanography, those beginning with QL deal with zoology, and those beginning with SH deal with fisheries.  Arrange alphabetically.

Line 3: The numbers on this line are whole numbers that further define the subject area of the book.  If a decimal follows the whole number, the numbers to the right of the decimal are treated as decimals.  Arrange whole numbers numerically.

Line 4 and Line 5: The next one or two parts of the call number are letter-decimal combinations generally designating the author and title of the book.  But beware!  The decimal may not be printed as part of the call number!  Even if the decimal is not printed in the call number on the spine of the book, you must think of the number that follows the letter as a decimal.  Therefore, J235 would precede J89.   So for these lines, arrange the letters alphabetically; arrange the numbers decimally.

Line 6: A copyright date is often included in the call number to distinguish different editions of the same book.  Arrange dates chronologically.  

Line 7: Finally, the call number may include a volume number, part number, or copy designation.
The following are call numbers that you would see on books at the MRL arranged in correct order by the LC classification system:
 

Now that you know all about the LC classification and filing system, this is where you will find the books at the MRL:

• Reference books begin on the range of shelves nearest the windows.

• Oversize books follow the Reference Collection; oversize books are also located in the map case at the end of the reference stacks.

• Circulating books begin immediately after the oversize books and continue onto the mobile shelving.

If you cannot locate a book listed as available, please ask any staff member to assist you or email mrlcirc@cofc.edu .

If you need a book that the library does not own, please submit an interlibrary loan request.

If you still need help, please contact the librarian at 843-953-9370 or submit an Ask the Librarian a Question form online.