Talbott Elementary Library

Shelving Guide

By Joelene Goff

Shelving Fiction Books

The spine labels on fiction books have an “F” and the first three letters of the author’s last name. They are shelved alphabetically by the author’s last name.

Spine LabelBook Cover With Author’s Full Name

“F” stands for “fiction”

“LEN” are the first three letters of the author’s last name

The dots on the spine label tell which grade level the book is for in Accelerated Reader.

Shelving Non-Fiction BooksNon-fiction books are shelved according to the Dewey Decimal System(DDS): 000=Generalities, 100=Philosophy & psychology, 200=Religion, 300=Social sciences, 400=Language, 500=Natural sciences & mathematics, 600=Technology (Applied sciences), 700=the Arts, 800=Literature & rhetoric, 900=History & Geography. The spine labels on non-fiction books have a number

according to the DDS and the first three letters of the author’s last name. Books that have the same DDS number are then shelved alphabetically according to the author’s last name.

“STE” are the first three letters of the Author’s last name

Non-fiction books are shelved according to the DDS, going from the smallest numbers to the largest.

Sample Questions

1. If you have two spine labels, one that reads “521.1 WOR” and one that reads “563.3 WOR,” which one comes first?

2. If you have two spine labels that read “534.4 ARD” and “534.4 BRU,” which comes first?

3. If you have two spine labels that read “504.1 ARC” and “675.9 ARC,” which comes first?

4. If you have two spine labels that read “321.5 ZYG” and “445.7 ACL,” which comes first?

Answers

1. “521.1 WOR” comes before “563.3 WOR” because 521.1 isless than 563.3.

2. “534.4 ARD” comes before “534.4 BRU” because “A” is before “B” in the alphabet.

3. “504.1 ARC” comes before “675.9 ARC” because 504.1 isless than 675.9.

4. “321.5 ZYG” comes before “445.7 ACL” because 321.5 is less than 445.7

Shelving Reference BooksReference books are grouped into categories: dictionaries, encyclopedias, and miscellaneous other reference books. They are then placed in numerical order using the number on the spine label. The spine labels also have three letters on them, which are used to put the books in order when multiple books have the same number. If there is a specific author or editor, the letters are the first three of the author/editor’s last name. However, if there is no author or editor, the letters are from the title of the book. For example, the World Book Encyclopedias do not have a specific author or editor, so their spine labels read “031 WOR.” Merriam-Webster’s Guide to Everyday Math, on the other hand, is by Brian Burrell, so its spine label reads “510 BUR.” Most of the reference books also have an orange sticker on the spine that says “Reference.”

Encyclopedias

This shelf also contains some miscellaneous books.

When shelving, try to keep the books standing up, not falling down like some of these.

Dictionaries Most of the reference books have an orange “Reference” sticker on

the spine.

Miscellaneous

These shelves contain miscellaneous books such as almanacs, phone books, and The Yellow Pages.

As you can see, not all of the reference books currently have an orange sticker or a spine label. If you find one of these laying out and do not know where it goes, ask Mr. Goff or leave it on the circulation desk.

The Young Children’s Encyclopedias do not have a specific author or editor, so the spine label uses the first three letters in the title (except “a,” “an,” or “the”).

“Reference” stickers

Merriam Webster’s Guide to Everyday Math is by Brian Burrell. Therefore, “BUR” being the first three letters in his last name, the letters are on the spine label.

This book does have an orange “Reference” sticker.

Shelving Picture Books

Picture books should be put in order using the first three letters of the author’s last name. The spine labels on these books

also have an “F” for “fiction.”