Search by Call Number/Other Number
To locate materials in the Library Catalog by call number, ISBN, ISSN or other identifying number, on the main Library Catalog page select the Advanced Search button or click on the Mesh or the LC Call Number option. If you select the Advanced Search button you will then need to pick the correct tab for the type of search you wish to do. Choose from the list of options available to you and then type the appropriate number in the “Search Input” box.
One of the main reasons to do a Call Number or Other Number search in an online library catalog is to browse a list of titles that are shelved in a particular section of a library. Typing in a call number
will lead you to a specific record or list of records, depending on how detailed the call number is. If you want to “browse the shelves online” click on the Previous Record or Next Record button. By doing this, you may come across other titles that relate to your topic.
Searching by a publication’s ISBN/ISSN number is also an efficient way to find out whether a library owns a particular journal or book. Many database citations will include the ISSN number in their records. Typing in the ISSN for a journal title is the most direct way to get to the online catalog records for that journal.
Call numbers will vary between libraries depending on the classification system that isused. The best way to find out whether a library has a particular publication is tosearch by title or by author.
Options
The options available to you when you are doing a Call Number or Other Number search are:
Library of Congress Call Number:
This is the classification system used at the Kelvin Smith, Allen, Health Center, and Law libraries at Case Western Reserve University, as well as most academic libraries. The Harris Library reclassified the library’s collection from Dewey into the Library of Congress (LC) classification system.
Example of a Library of Congress call number:
Dewey Call Number:
This is the classification system formerly used at the MSASS Harris Library, as well as most public and school libraries. The Harris Library reclassified the library’s collection from Dewey into Library of Congress but the Harris Library’s Historical collection remains in Dewey.
Example of a Dewey call number:
Local Call Number:
Many libraries use local call numbers to categorize material that is unique to their collection. Examples of local call numbers at Case Western Reserve University include Media, Pamphlets and News. Check with a librarian to find out more about local call numbers used in your library.
Example of a local call number:
SUDOC Call Number:
This is the classification system used for government publications.
Example of a SUDOC call number:
ISBN/ISSN:
This is the unique publication identifier assigned to a book or serial. The ISBN number identifies a book title; the ISSN number identifies a serial. Typing in the ISSN for a journal title is the most direct way to get to the online catalog record for that journal.
Example of a 10 digit ISBN:
Example of a 13 digit ISBN:
Example of an ISSN:
OCLC:
This is an identifying accession number assigned when a publication is cataloged. OCLC accession numbers are used primarily by library staff.
Example of an OCLC accession number:
Other:
This category of numbers includes unique identifiers such as Technical Report Numbers or Library of Congress Control Numbers. The numbers are used primarily by library staff and researchers.
Example of a Library of Congress control number:
Example of a Technical Report number:
In the online Library Catalog you can print one record at a time by clicking on the Print icon or you can print, download or e-mail multiple records by marking or saving them for export.