This classification scheme, designed by Melville Dewey in 1876, is used by many libraries on campus. Dewey divides knowledge into ten main classes with further subdivisions accompanied by decimal notation (for an extensive list of the classes and subdivisions, see our Dewey Decimal System page). This system allows for books on similar topics to be near each other on the shelves.

Size Designation relates to the physical size of the book (Q indicates a quarto while F indicates a folio).

Dewey Decimal Number indicates the class and subject matter of the book.

Cutter Number identifies who wrote the book.

Work Mark & Other Information help maintain alphabetic order in shelving and make a call number unique from other works.