Several different systems are used to arrange books on the shelf across the University of Toronto's 40 libraries.
In general, all of these systems are designed to:
- Help you find items on the shelf using a code found in the library catalogue called a "call number"
- Group similar items together on the shelf
- Describe the content and format of an item in the library catalogue
Library of Congress system
- Used most often at the University of Toronto Libraries
- Call number has both letters and numbers
- E806 .G635 2012
- UA600 .V36 1988
- HC120 .L3 M37 2012
- How to use it
Dewey Decimal
- Used at OISE Library
- Call number has mainly numbers, but letters are also sometimes present
- 025.56 AL817L
- 917.1 L786ca
- 301.4120971 N277C
- How to use it
Old Class
- Used for books that were catalogued pre-1954 at many libraries
- Robarts 9th floor storage – storage retrieval form
- Call number has mainly letters with some numbers
- P Med M
- Pamph. HAm. S.
- EcF G5784g
- Developed at University of Toronto
- How to use it [PDF] *Please note that the locations in this document are no longer correct.
CODOC
- Used for many government documents and publications
- Call number has both letters and numbers with punctuation interspersed
- CA1..FN....-2006A11
- US1..CM.100..S71
- UN5..EWA.......-U51 1979+
- Items are arranged on the shelf by country and government body, not by subject
- How to use it
Audio Visual search terms
- Used at the Media Commons
- Call number has material format followed by number
- VideoDVD 758910
- Videocass 005288
- AudioCD 450071
- Developed at University of Toronto
- Media Commons materials are retrieved only by staff, so you do not need to know how to use it.