Circulating Collection (Stacks)

The Circulating Collection, or Stacks as it is sometimes called, is located on the Second and Third Floors of the Library. The following chart outlines the specific floor materials may be found on:

Item Floor
Books (call numbers beginning with the letters A-H) Second Floor
Books (call numbers beginning with the letters J-Z) Third Floor
Children’s Books Third Floor
Music Recordings Third Floor
Academic Videos Interfiled with books by call number
Entertainment Videos First Floor (Browsing)

  • ItemBooks (call numbers beginning with the letters A-H)
    FloorSecond Floor

  • ItemBooks (call numbers beginning with the letters J-Z)
    FloorThird Floor

  • ItemChildren’s Books
    FloorThird Floor

  • ItemMusic Recordings
    FloorThird Floor

  • ItemAcademic Videos
    FloorInterfiled with books by call number

  • ItemEntertainment Videos
    FloorFirst Floor (Browsing)

Non-Circulating Collection

The Library also has Collections that do not circulate. This material can be used in the Library but cannot be checked out.

Item Floor
Periodicals/Newspapers Ground Floor
Select Current Periodicals/Newspapers First Floor(Browsing)*
Reference First Floor

*Browsing material located on 1st floor near Circulation Desk

  • ItemPeriodicals/Newspapers
    FloorGround Floor

  • ItemSelect Current Periodicals/Newspapers
    FloorFirst Floor(Browsing)*

  • ItemReference
    FloorFirst Floor

  • Item

    *Browsing material located on 1st floor near Circulation Desk


How is the collection organized?

  • Books and other materials in the Stacks are organized by the Library of Congress (LC) Classification System – a combination of letters and numbers that indicates the location or “address” of an item in the library.
  • Each book in the Library has its own unique call number which is taped to the lower outside edge of the book’s spine and/or the book’s front cover.
  • Books written about the same subject have similar call numbers, which groups them together on the shelf, making it easier for you to browse the Library collection on a specific topic.

Library of Congress Classification System

Ingram Library the Library of Congress (LC) classification system, which uses both letter and numbers (alphanumeric) to assign call numbers to materials and to arrange them on the shelves. The Library of Congress classification system divides knowledge into 21 classes, and then into subclasses and subtopics using a combination of letters and numbers. Materials are then arranged by the LC call number on the shelves, making them easier to locate. Materials about specific topics will be located on the shelves adjacent to materials on the same topic or similar topics.

The general breakdown for the Library of Congress Classification Schedule is as follows:

A General Works
B-BJ Philosophy
BF Psychology
BL-BX Religion
C History: Auxiliary Sciences (history of civilization; archaeology; genealogy; general biography)
D History: General and Old World
E-F History: Americas (Western Hemisphere)
G Geography, Anthropology, Folklore, etc.
GV Physical Education
H Social Sciences (includes statistics, business, economics, labor, sociology, social work, criminal justice)
J Political Sciences (includes public administration, local government, international law)
K Law
L Education
M Music
N Fine Arts (includes architecture, sculpture, graphic arts, painting, print media, decorative arts)
P Language and Literature
P-PA Classical Philology and Literature
PB-PH Modern European Languages
PJ-PM Languages and Literature of Asia, Africa, Oceania, Latin America
PN, PR, PS, PZ Literature -- General, English, American; Fiction and Juvenile Literature
PQ French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese Literature
PT German, Dutch, Scandinavian Literature
Q Science (includes mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, physics, geology, botany, zoology)
R Medicine (includes nursing and allied health sciences, psychiatry)
S Agriculture
T Technology (includes engineering, mining, manufacturing, handicrafts, home economics)
U Military Science
V Naval Science
Z Bibliography and Library Science (includes bookmaking, censorship)

  • A
    General Works

  • B-BJ
    Philosophy

  • BF
    Psychology

  • BL-BX
    Religion

  • C
    History: Auxiliary Sciences (history of civilization; archaeology; genealogy; general biography)

  • D
    History: General and Old World

  • E-F
    History: Americas (Western Hemisphere)

  • G
    Geography, Anthropology, Folklore, etc.

  • GV
    Physical Education

  • H
    Social Sciences (includes statistics, business, economics, labor, sociology, social work, criminal justice)

  • J
    Political Sciences (includes public administration, local government, international law)

  • K
    Law

  • L
    Education

  • M
    Music

  • N
    Fine Arts (includes architecture, sculpture, graphic arts, painting, print media, decorative arts)

  • P
    Language and Literature

  • P-PA
    Classical Philology and Literature

  • PB-PH
    Modern European Languages

  • PJ-PM
    Languages and Literature of Asia, Africa, Oceania, Latin America

  • PN, PR, PS, PZ
    Literature -- General, English, American; Fiction and Juvenile Literature

  • PQ
    French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese Literature

  • PT
    German, Dutch, Scandinavian Literature

  • Q
    Science (includes mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, physics, geology, botany, zoology)

  • R
    Medicine (includes nursing and allied health sciences, psychiatry)

  • S
    Agriculture

  • T
    Technology (includes engineering, mining, manufacturing, handicrafts, home economics)

  • U
    Military Science

  • V
    Naval Science

  • Z
    Bibliography and Library Science (includes bookmaking, censorship)