Need help finding that library book?
Below is a guide to help you get started in your search for books at Forbes Library. If you have any questions, ask a librarian for assistance.
The books in Forbes library are arranged in the Cutter Expansive Classification System, which was developed by Charles A. Cutter, the librarian at Forbes from 1894 - 1903. The general book collection is located on three levels:
- First floor:
Fiction, Literature, and Non-Fiction (call letters A - C and Y - Z) - Mezzanine/Middle floor:
Non-Fiction call letters D - U (also has oversize books) - Second floor (Arts & Music Department):
Non-fiction call numbers V - X
To make your book hunt easier, the following tips will point you in the right direction:
- YF means Fiction
The fiction in Forbes Library is shelved by author's last name, and then alphabetically by title. However, when you search the catalog for a specific title or author, the call number that appears in the catalog is YF. The YF/Fiction section is located in the back of the first floor. - New Books
New fiction and non-fiction books are located in the Reading Room, across from the Circulation Desk, on the first floor. Arts & Music new books are located on the second floor in the Arts & Music Department. - Books on Northampton
In the Cutter system, each geographical area is assigned a number - Massachusetts' number is 844; Northampton is further designated by the letter N. Thus, books about the history of Northampton are shelved under F (history materials) 844N (Massachusetts/Northampton). - Travel Books
All travel and guidebooks are located in the G area - books about travel in the United States are shelved under G (travel) 83 (United States). - Arts and Music
Sports and recreation books (V - VR), books related to theatre, music, and art (VS - W), and language books (X) are located on the second floor. - Call Numbers Are Consistent!
Examples: A biography on Florence Nightingale can be found under the call number EN564 in the children's room and in the adult biography section; Geology reference books and books available for checkout on geology are shelved under MG. - j Means Children's
Children's materials are located in the Children's Department and are designated by a lowercase "j" before the call number.
The following outline of the Cutter Expansive Classification system describes each category and the types of materials you will find in general areas.
|
A: General Works Encyclopedias, almanacs, indexes, periodicals, quotations. |
I: Sociology and Education Social services, insurances, directories of colleges and universities, scholarships and grants, career resources. |
R: Technology/Useful Arts Invention and patents, agriculture, horticulture, forestry, home economics, nutrition and food, cooking, dieting. |
| B: Philosophy, Psychology, and some Religion The occult, religion and theology, mythology, folklore, healing, mind and body, self-actualization. |
J: Political Science Civics, government, citizenship, political topics. |
S: Constructive Arts - Engineering and Building Construction, engineering, transportation, cars, railroads. |
| C: Christian and Jewish Religions Judaism, Christianity, and theological works. |
K: Law Legal resources, gay rights, divorce, animal rights, taxation, estate planning, women's rights. |
T: Handicrafts, Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering Carpentry, sewing, machines, metalwork, leather, textiles, plastics. |
| D: Church History Catholicism, Reformation, Protestants, etc. |
L: General Sciences Mathematics, computer science, the Internet and the World Wide Web, physics and chemistry. |
U: War, Military History Battles, military art and science, military law, warfare. |
| E: Biography Books are arranged by subject/biographee. |
M: Natural Sciences Environmental science, ecology, weather and meteorology, geology, volcanoes and earthquakes, oceanography, biology/life sciences. |
V: Athletics, Recreation, Music, Performing Arts Sports in general, magic, juggling, theatre, film, dance, music, works of music. (more details) |
| F: History Books are arranged by time period and country. |
N: Botany Plants, flowers, wildflowers, mushrooms, ferns, trees. |
W: Fine Arts, Art Art history, architecture, sculpture, drawing, painting, photography, needlework, furniture. (more details) |
| G: Geography and Travel Guidebooks, travel books, atlases, maps. |
O - P: Zoology Animal behavior, zoology |
X: Language Linguistics, language learning tools, dictionaries, name books. |
| H: Social Sciences Statistics, economics, business, investment, consumer information. |
Q: Medicine Health, homeopathy, naturopathy, medical directories, mental health. |
Y: Literature Fiction, drama, poetry, essays, speeches. |
| Z: Books and Literary History Writing, printing, public libraries, bibliography, literary criticism, author information. | ||
What about the Dewey Decimal System?
We don't use it ... but if you are familiar with the Dewey System, here is a chart to convert Dewey numbers to Cutter.
Floor Plans
The following are PDF files, which require Adobe Reader. [free download]