Finding a Non-Fiction Book Northridge High School The Doc. Brazzel Memorial Library.

Finding a Non-Fiction Book

Northridge High School

The Doc. Brazzel Memorial Library

Non-Fiction- Writing that deals with real people and events rather than imaginary ones. Examples- Biographies and Histories

( When you walk into the Doc. Brazzel Library, the non-fiction books are going to be to the right of you; they go all the

way to the back of the library.)

What is a Non-fiction book and Where to find one?

How to find a Non- Fiction Book?

Books in non-fiction are shelved by their subject category.Example- When looking for a book on holidays, it is more important to find the right book on a subject than it is to know the author. So you need to know the Dewey # first and the author second.

Shelving a Non-Fiction Book

One would start at the left on the top shelf and move to the right until the shelf section ends. Then move to the next shelf below the pervious one and do the same. When you get to the bottom shelf, move up to the top shelf of next section. This applies the Left to Right, Top to Bottom rule. Just like reading a book.

The Cutter Number

The cutter number is the number on the spine label.It contains at least three numbers. There will always be three numbers and than a decimal after. After the decimal (the right of the decimal) there is no limit to how many numbers can be used. The more numbers after the decimal the more specific the subject.

Cutter Number

The Cutter Number Cont..

First: When reading the numbers on the spine you will want to look at the tenth spot first. 880.1 Second: You will then go to the hundredth spot 880.12. The books are in numeric order. ( There can be as many numbers that is need after the decimal. The more numbers the more specific).Third: After you are down with the 880.1 spots then one will move to the 880.2 and follow rule 1 and 2.Fourth: One can use these rules for any of the following sections.

Tenth SpotHundredth Spot

Reading the Spine on a Non – Fiction book

The first three letters on a book are the beginning of the author’s or editor’s last name. One would find these in alphabetical order. Examples- ANI will go before ANT and so on.

CAM comes before COM and then COM comes before HIL

Dewey Decimal

The First step is to identify what category the information you are researching falls into.

000= Generalities010= Bibliography020= Library & Information sciences030-040= General Encyclopedic Works050= General Serial publications060= General Organizations & Museology070= Journalism, Publishing and

Newspapers080= General Collection090= Manuscripts and Book Rarities

Signs are posted all though the library!

Cont…

100= Philosophy

110= Metaphysics

120= Epistemology, Causation, Humankind130= Paranormal Phenomena & Arts140= Specific Philosophical Viewpoints150= Psychology160= Logic170= Ethics( Moral Philosophy) 180= Ancient, Medieval, Oriental190= Modern Western Philosophy

Cont…

200 Religion210= Natural Religion220= Bible 230= Christian Theology240= Christian Moral & Devotional250= Local Church & Religious Orders260= Social& Ecclesiastical Theology270= History & Geography of Church280= Christian Denominations & sects290= Other & Comparative Religions

Cont…

300= Social Science310= Statistics320= Political Science330= Economics340= Law350= Public Administration360= Social Problems & Services370= Education380= Commerce (Trade)390= Customs, Etiquette, Folklore

Cont…

400= Language410= Linguistics420= English& Anglo-Saxon languages430= Germanic Languages, German440= Romance Languages, French450= Italian, Romanian, Romantic

languages460= Spanish & Portuguese Languages470= Italic Languages, Latin480= Hellenic, Classical Greek490= Other Languages

Cont…

500= Pure Sciences510= Mathematics520= Astronomy & allied Sciences530= Physics540= Chemistry & Allied Sciences550= Science of Earth & other Worlds560= Paleontology, Paleozoology570= Life Sciences580= Botanical Sciences590= Zoological Sciences

Cont…

600= Technology (Applied Sciences)610= Medical Sciences620= Engineering & Allied Operations630= Agriculture & Related Technologies640= Home Economics & Family Living650= Management & Auxiliary Services660= Chemical & Related Technologies670= Manufactures680= Manufacture for Specific Uses690= Buildings

Cont…

700= The Arts710= Civic & Landscape Art720= Architecture730= Plastic Arts, Sculpture740= Drawing, Decorative & Minor Arts 750= Painting & Paintings760= Graphic Arts, Prints770= Photography & Photography's780= Music790= Recreational & Performing Arts

Cont…

800= Literature810= American Literature in English820= English & Anglo- Saxon Literatures830= Literature of Germanic Languages840= Literature of Romance Languages850= Italian, Romanian, Rhaeto-Romantic860= Spanish & Portuguese Literature 870= Italic Literatures, Latin880= Hellenic Literatures, Greek890= Literatures of other Languages

Cont…

900= Geography and History910= General Geography, Travel920= General Biography & Genealogy930= General History of Ancient World940= General History of Europe950= General History of Asia960= General History of Africa970= General History of North America980= General History of South America990= General History of other areas

Cont…

You are then able to find books that are related to these area. Making it easier to find the books that you are looking for by using the subject.

The Reference Section

The reference section of the library is shelved exactly the same way.

However, reference books, such as encyclopedias and research texts are very expensive and many of the books are part of a series, so they do not leave the library or get checked out.

If the call number says REF, you will need to use that resource here in the library.

Great Job You Have Finished!!