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Library of Congress Classification System: Library of Congress System

 

What is the Library of Congress Classification System?

 

Library of Congress reading room image
The Library of Congress Classification System is used by most college and university libraries to organize books on the shelves. It is an alpha-numeric system; each item in the library has a label with letters and numbers (together called a call number) which indicates its place on the shelf. The letters indicate a subject area, and the numbers which follow further subdivide the broader topic into more specific categories. 

Start with a search in the library catalog or use the search box at the bottom of this page. In your search results, you should notice the call numbers associated with physical items located within the library.

 

Image: Main Reading Room at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Library of Congress A through L

A
AE
AY
General Works
Encyclopedias
Almanacs
B
BF
BL-BX
Philosophy, Psychology, Religion
Psychology
Religion
C
CC
CT
Auxiliary Fields of History
Archaeology
Biography
D
D
DA
DC
DD
DE-G
DK
DS
DT
History (General and Old World)
World History; World Wars
Great Britain
France
Germany
Ancient Greece and Italy
Russia
Asia
Africa
E History of the United States
F History (Local U.S. and the Americas)
G
GE
GN
GR
GV
Geography, Anthropology, Recreation
Oceanography
Anthropology
Folklore
Recreation and Sports
H
HA
HB-C
HD
HF
HG
HM
HQ
HV
Social Sciences
Statistics
Economics
Management and Labor
Business
Finance
Sociology
Family, Old Age
Problems of Society, Alcohol, Drug Abuse, Crime
J
JK
JZ
Political Science
U.S. Government
International Affairs
K Law
L Education

 

Library of Congress M through Z

M
ML
MT
Music
Literature on Music
Instruction and Teaching
N
NA
NB
NC
ND
NK
Fine Arts
Architecture
Sculpture
Drawing
Painting
Decorative Arts
P
PA
PE
PN
PR
PS
Language and Literature
Classical Literature
Grammar & Writing
Literature, General
English Literature
American Literature
Q
QA
QC
QD
QH
QM
QP
Science
Math; Computer Science
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Anatomy
Physiology
R
RC
RD
RJ
RM
RT
Medicine
Internal Medicine
Surgery
Pediatrics
Pharmacology
Nursing
S
SB
SF
Agriculture
Plants
Animals
T
TA
TD
TK
TL
TR
TT
Technology
Engineering (General)
Environment, Pollution
Electronics
Automobiles
Photography
Arts & Crafts
U Military Science
V Naval Science
Z Bibliography; Library Science

 

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