SCAD Cataloging and Aquisitions

The Technical Services Department is looking for a student workstudy to help us with the physical processing of materials. The job includes placing spine labels on books and properly labeling and identifying materials for various departments in the library. This is a job that requires patience, a steady hand and an attention to detail. This is a part time position (10-16 hours a week). We are willing to work around your class schedule, though hours will be Monday Through Friday, between 9AM and 5PM.

So, if you are approved for Federal Workstudy and looking for engaging work here in the library, send an email to: jencat@scad.edu. Include “Workstudy Position” in the subject line.

A call number is a combination of letters and numbers assigned to a book that gives it a specific location in the library. At the Jen Library, we use the Library of Congress (LC) Classification system. Take a look at the LC Classification Outline, to familiarize yourself with the various subject areas.

Reading a call number may be a bit daunting at first, but once you get used to it, it’s easy. Here are a few tips on finding that particular book you need for your paper:

1. Search the Catalog
Our online catalog makes it quick and easy to find items. You can search by author, title, ISBN, call number or do a key word search. Click on the advanced search to have a more detailed look.

2. Check Availability
Once you’ve found the book you need, have a quick look at its Location and Status. Make sure the Location says Jen Library and not ACA Atlanta or Lacoste. The status box will let you know if the book is available or when it is due back. If the item you are looking for is currently checked out you can request that item by clicking on the request button and we’ll send you an e-mail when it is returned.

3. Write Down the Call Number
Now that you know the book is here and available, write down the call number. This will make it much easier to find what you are looking for when roaming the shelves.
The Anatomy of a Call Number

A typical call number looks like this:

PS -class
3572 -subject
.O5 -first Cutter number
S57 -second cutter number
1973 -year/edition

The letters at the beginning are the Class: Philosophy, Literature, Art, architecture etc. There will always be at least one letter and often two. In the Jen Library, we have arranged our classes of books by floor:

3rd Floor: circulating books (which can be checked out) A-N and all Special Collection (library use only) books
2nd Floor: circulating books (which can be checked out) NA-Z and serials
1st Floor: Reference books (library use only), A-Z

All books that are held on reserve for courses, videos, and current Theses are held at the circulation desk and can be requested there.

The number after the letter in a call number is the subject. Once you have found the floor on which the book you want is located, you then find the shelf that holds that number range.

The first and second cutter numbers are a combination of letters and numbers that identify the author or title and held differentiate one book form another, which is especially helpful in crowded subjects where we may have multiple books by different authors on the same subject.

The year helps identify which edition of a book you are looking for.

As always, if you have any questions or difficulty locating a specific book, the Reference Librarian on duty will be happy to give you a hand.

The Jen Library Cataloging and Acquisitions Department is here to help you find the resources that will hep you with your academic needs. Whether you are a student, faculty or staff member, we’d like to hear form you, especially if you have an idea for how we can make the Jen Library more useful and productive for your needs.

See our About page for more information oabout the what we do to keep the library running.

If you have any questions or suggestions for materials that you think the library should carry, do not hesitate to let us know.