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Library Call Numbers

This guide details Library of Congress, Dewey, and Medical call numbers.

Poetry

Unlike a bookstore where you can browse by genre, poetry books at the library are shelved as "literature."

  • This means there is not one poetry section.
    • Poems are organized by language, nationality, period of writing, and author's last name.
    • Homer is Classical Greece literature in PA4018-4208

We recommend looking up a specific author in the library catalog to find the section you need. Not sure where to start? Browse the suggestions below:

Browsing Tips

  1. Search an author's name in the library catalog to find their section.
  2. Use the arrows on the moveable shelves.
    • Select the screen and lightly tap the arrow to move the shelf.
  3. Consider where an author is from and when they began writing. For example:
Author Nationality Example Call Number Library Location
Classics/Greek Homer PA4025.A5 W56 3rd Floor
American Emily Dickinson PS1541.Z5 A4 4th Floor
American Maya Angelou PS3551.N464 C45 4th Floor
Canadian Rupi Kaur PR9199.4 K377 A6 4th Floor

Picture example using author Joy Harjo:

  1. Joy Harjo is an American author. Their first book was published before 2001.
  2. Use the call numbers on the end of the shelves to find the section for PS3556.R5 - PS3558.U695 L

Library call numbers sign

3. Move along the shelf until you see books by this author.

Library books on shelf