Anatomy of a call number 

Each item (books, periodicals, cassettes, CD-ROMs etc) is assigned a call number by its subject for shelving.

A call number has 3 parts:

1. Prefix        

Prefix indicates type of collection:

·  TK (reference collection)

·  LV (theses)

·  TC (periodicals, newspapers)

·  NN (AV materials)

·  BĐ (maps)

·  WB (World Bank)

·  FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)

·  WHO (World Health Organization)

·  AF (Asia Fund) 

2. DDC number

A DDC number is used to classify an item by subject based on a general classification scheme. The scheme has 10 main subject classes: 

000     Generalities

100     Philosophy and Psychology

200     Religions

300     Social Sciences

400     Languages

500     Natural Sciences and Math

600     Technology (Applied Sciences)

700     The Arts (Fine and Decorative Arts)

800     Literature and Rhetoric

900     Geography and History

--> See DDC scheme

3.  The Author or Title

This part is made up from 2 or 3 initials of an author’s family name or title. E.g.:

·  STE for Daniel Steel

·  NGU for Nguyễn Hiến Lê

·  MOT for the title “Một số vấn đề chọn lọc trong môn tin học”   

Searching by call number 

-  Search by call number when you know it exactly

-  Type in exactly a call number and select “Phan loai Dewey” in OPAC

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