Library of Congress Classification (LC)

Since the 1970's, most books have been classified according to the system devised by the Library of Congress (LC). Call numbers for these books begin with the letters QD or include the annotation (LC) on the last line of the call number. These books are shelved in Sections 13 - 16 on the lower level.

A - QC 900	Lower Level	(Section 13)
QD1 - QD269	Lower Level	(Section 14)
QD270 - QD412	Lower Level	(Section 15)
QD415 - Z	Lower Level	(Section 16)

Old Yale Chemistry Classification

Most books cataloged before the 1970's are classified according to a system devised by the Yale Chemistry Department. Call numbers in this system begin with numbers similar to the Dewey Decimal System, but not using the same subject scheme.

1 - 150	Lower Level	Section 9
151 - 245	Lower Level	Section 10
246 - 441	Lower Level	Section 11
442 - 558	Lower Level	Section 12
559 - 999	Lower Level	Section 13

Periodicals

Almost all periodicals are shelved alphabetically by title in Sections 17 - 74. Some heavily used periodicals are shelved in the free standing ranges D - J.

Abstracts and Handbooks

Chemical Abstracts, the Beilstein Handbook of Organic Chemistry and the Gmelin Handbook of Inorganic Chemistry are shelved in the two Index Rooms adjacent to the Main Library space.

Chemical Abstracts	Near Index Room	(Rm. 183A)
Beilstein	Far Index Room	(Rm. 167)
Gmelin	Far Index Room	(Rm. 167)

Reference Collection

The Reference Collection is located on the Lower Level of the Library in Sections 4 - 8. Both Old Yale Chemistry classification and Library of Congress call numbers are used in the Reference Collection. Old Yale Chemistry classification materials are shelved first in Sections 4 - 6 and Library of Congress call numbers follow in Sections 6 - 8.

Reference Spectra Collection

The Reference Spectra Collection is designed to bring all of the spectra tools in the Chemistry Library together for easier use. Materials are located on the Lower Level of the Library in Section A (the Sadtler Spectral Libraries) and the outer side of the reference island.

Reference Carrel

The Reference Carrel houses a range of tools including the heavily used CRC and Merck Handbooks which are chained to the carrel and a copy of the CASSI journal abbreviations for use with the nearby online catalog. The Reference Carrel is located next to Section 4.

Oversize/Folio

The Library owns a few items that are too large to fit comfortably in the regular call number sequence. These are shelved on the inner side of the reference island.

Further Information:

• Who Can Use the Library?
• Hours
• Getting to the Library
• Contacting the Library
• Using Materials
• Reference Services