Comparing LC and Dewey

LC Call Numbers Outline
How to Read LC Call Numbers
Understanding LC Call Numbers
How LC Call Numbers are Arranged on the Shelves
Physical Locations in the Library
Comparing LC with Dewey

The J.D. Williams Library uses the Library of Congress (LC) classification. Like the Dewey Decimal classification system, LC is used both as an unique identifier for each book in the library and as a way to group books with similar subjects together on the shelves. Note the similarities and differences in the two classification systems in the table below, using the book "A Quick Reference to Dining Etiquette" by Shelia M. Long as an example.

Library of Congress	What is it?	How it was made?
BJ	General Subject	B -Philosophy, Psychology, Religion BJ - Ethics
2041	Specific Topic	1801-2195 - Social Usage. Etiquette 2021-2078 - Etiquette of Entertaining 2041 - Table Etiquette
.L66	Author	Based on the author's last name
1993	Year	Usually the year the book was published

Dewey Decimal	What is it?	How it was made?
395	General Subject	300 - Social Sciences 390 - Customs, Etiquette, Folklore 395 - Etiquette (Manners)
.54	Specific Topic	.5 - In Specific Situations .54 - Table Manners
LON	Author	Based on the author's last name
1993	Year	Usually the year the book was published

Why use LC or Dewey?
Whether LC or Dewey is used in a library is based on the size of the collection. Dewey is divided into 10 classes, or broad subjects. This limits the number and variety of call numbers that can be assigned to books, making it better suited for libraries with smaller collections, such as school libraries or public libraries. LC, on the other hand, has 21 classes, which allows for more call numbers needed for the greater number of books owned by larger academic libraries.

Dewey Decimal Classification		Library of Congress Classification
000	Generalities	A	General Works
100	Philosophy, Paranormal Phenomena, Psychology	B	Philosophy. Psychology. Religion
200	Religion	C	Auxiliary Sciences Of History
300	Social sciences	D	History (General) And History Of Europe
400	Language	E	History: America (National)
500	Natural sciences and mathematics	F	History: America (Local)
600	Technology and Applied Sciences	G	Geography. Anthropology. Recreation
700	The Arts Fine and Decorative Arts	H	Social Sciences
800	Literature (Belles-Lettres) and Rhetoric	J	Political Science
900	Geography, History, and Auxiliary Disciplines	K	Law
		L	Education
		M	Music And Books On Music
		N	Fine Arts
		P	Language And Literature
		Q	Science
		R	Medicine
		S	Agriculture
		T	Technology
		U	Military Science
		V	Naval Science
For a list of LC subjects commonly used by this library, go here.		Z	Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources (General)

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LC Call Numbers Outline

Last updated May 13, 2004