Skip to Main Content

InfoSkills for Humanities and Digital Sciences

InfoSkills @ TiU

Call numbers, Locating a book in the library, Placing a hold

Call numbers

All print books in the library are assigned a call number [NL: vindplaats], which can be found on the book spine. The call number is basically the book's 'address' on the library's shelves. Our call numbers are made up of letters and numbers and look something like this: SOC B80 49849. 

What do the different parts of a call number represent? 

  • a 3-letter collection code indicating to which collection the book belongs:
    • SOC = Social Sciences
    • ECO = Economics
    • CIF = Philosophy
    • LET = Language & Literature
    • LA = Liberal Arts
    • JUR = Law
    • TFL = Theology & Religious Studies
  • a subject code indicating to which subject category the book belongs: 
    • B80 = Economic psychology
    • R82 = Criminal law 
    • I18 = Political economy 
    • etc.
  • a book number which identifies a specific title within the range of books on that subject:
    • 49849 
    • etc.

Student library (SB books): Required reading for courses at TiU 

The TiU library holds a separate collection of books required for TiU courses, called the Student Library [Studentenboekerij=SB].

Call numbers for compulary books begin with the collection code, followed by 'SB' and the first four letters of the author's last name. Ex.: ECO SB HARR. (Note that some SB books are only available online.) 

Student library books (SB books) can be consulted only in the library building. They cannot be checked out. However, for most of the SB books there's a duplicate copy in the regular collection that can be checked out.

Placement of books

Books can be found on level 1 and 0 of the library.

  • Level 1
    • Reference works (dictionaries and encyclopedias)
    • The Student Library (NL: Studentenboekerij or SB)
  • Level 0
    • Books on Economics (ECO), Liberal Arts (LA), Philosophy, Language & Literature (LET), Law (JUR), Social Sciences (SOC), and Theology & Religious Studies (TFL).

Finding a book on the shelf

To find a lendable book (look for 'normal loan' or 'short loan') that is marked as available in WorldCat Discovery ➊, for instance a book with call number SOC D37 50997 ➋, go to Level 0 of the library. Once you're there,

  • go to the shelves labeled SOC;
  • find section D37;
  • find the book number (50997) on the book spine label. The books are shelved in numerical order.

Finding a Student Library book (SB book)

On level 1, the SB books can be found in the low grey book shelves past the stairs. Find the section you need (e.g., ECO). Within this section, the books are ordered alphabetically by (the first four letters of the) last name of the author ➊. Keep in mind that Student Library books are not for loan ➋.

Sometimes the book you want is not on the shelf. Then there are two possibilities:

  1. The book may be stored in one of the library's depots [NL: magazijnen].
    Books from the depot have a CBM or CBC call number (e.g., CBM 742 E 38, CBC TFK B 12050). 

  2. The book may be checked out.
    If a book is checked out, the status information will say 'Checked Out' and provide a due date. In both cases, you need to place a request for hold:

    • Click on the book title. This will take you to the full ('detailed') record for the book.

    • Use the 'Place hold' feature to place your request.
    • Follow the instructions.

Please note
Placing a hold will not recall the book from the person who has it checked out, but it will ensure that you are the next person who can borrow it. You'll receive an email when your hold is available for pick-up at the library desk.

Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License by Tilburg University.