How to read Dewey Call Numbers

In the Dewey Decimal system, the call number is made up of three parts.

Example: 306.24 R321 Yw

► Dewey Number: 306.24 - The Dewey Number is based on the subject of the book. 300's have books about social science topics. The decimal system treats numbers as decimals rather than whole numbers (.12 comes before .2). "Nothing" always comes before something (.1 comes before .11).

► Cutter Number: R321 - The Cutter number always begins with a letter. The letter usually refers to the author's last name.

► Work Mark: Yw

          ► B1: (Capital B followed by a number): Autobiography

          ► Bc: (Capital B followed by a letter): Biography - the small letter is the author of the biograph

          ► X: Bibliography

          ► Y: Criticism or commentary (Always shelved next to book it is based on)

          ► Edition Year: Different published editions of the same book, noted by date. 901 D36f 1998.