Children's & Young Adult Literature

Resources for children's literature and young adult literature research, and tips for using the children's literature collection.

How to Read Children's Literature Call Numbers

Children's books are arranged in three major categories up on the Second Level. 


When facing the collection, the books on the right are informational/nonfiction books with Dewey call numbers, which are the same sort of numbers a public library would use to arrange nonfiction books. 

The call numbers on these books can be read like this: 

Example: C.L. 398 .M117

C.L. - Stands for "Children's Literature"

398 - Read in numerical order

.M117 - Read the letter first, and then the numbers as if they were decimal numbers.  



The books on the left are in two separate categories--Children's/Young Adult fiction (longer, chapter books), and Picture Books (shorter books for younger children that contain illustrations). 


The Children's and YA Fiction are the first group you will find on the left, and they are marked with call numbers that begin with a F. The Call numbers on these books are read like this:

Example: C.L. F D911K

C.L. stands for Children's Literature

F - stands for fiction

D 911 k - Read the letter first, then the numbers as a decimal number. Read the final letter of the call number last. 


If this is too confusing, just know that the books are arranged in this section by the author's last name, and then in alphabetical order by title. 


 

Children's Picture Books are also on the left, past the Children's/YA Fiction section, and are marked with call numbers that begin with an A. Call numbers in this section can be read like this: 

Example: C.L. A M3775br

C.L. - Stands for Children's Literature

A - Stands for Picture Books

M3775br - Read the letter first, and then the numbers as a decimal number. Read the final letters of the call number last. 

Like the fiction books, if these call numbers are confusing, remember that picture books are arranged by the author's last name, and then in alphabetical order by title. 


Remember: If you have trouble finding a book, you can always use one of the phones in the stairwell to call down to the Information/Reference Desk and ask for assistance. 

First Year Experience & Children's Literature Librarian

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Sarah Fabian
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Contact:
Please feel free to email me at sfabian@emich.edu to get help over email or find a time to meet if my available appointment times don't work with your schedule.