Making sense of NLM A shelving module for

Making sense of NLM A shelving module for OHSU Library Students

Shelving Basics: • • The difference between NLM and LC How to approach shelving Test your knowledge w/simple quizzes Shelving challenges & solutions

What is NLM? It stands for the National Library of Medicine classification system for shelving. What is the difference between the Library of Congress (LC) system and NLM? The NLM system is patterned after LC and the call numbers look very similar except for the use of certain starting letters that LC doesn’t use (QS-QZ and W-WZ)

Mastering the art of shelving NLM call numbers Let’s begin!

Hint: Read the call number one row at a time! Row 1 is referred to as the Classification number Step 1: Think Alphabetically QS 78 before QT 31

Row 1 Step 2: Think of the whole number QT 4 13. S 132 before QT 11 12. S 132 and of the mixed decimal QT 2. 09 78 before QT 20. 1 13. S 132

Test your knowledge! Question: Looking at the first row of the following call numbers, select the correct order by clicking on A, B, or C. A 1, 2, 4, 3 B 2, 4, 3, 1 WY 11. 1 A 49 2010 c. 1 WY 2 A 499 2010 WY 2. 11 A 153 2009 WY 2. 1 A 6 2008 3 4 C 2, 1, 4, 3 1 2

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Correct! Please click anywhere to continue

Let’s take a closer look at the 1 st row! Challenge: Which comes first after the decimal point, letters or numbers? FACT: Past the decimal point, Letters take precedence over numbers WF 105. A 11 WF 105. AA 1 WF 105 1 2 3

First row. . . Challenge: Are the numbers after the decimal point considered fractions or whole numbers? FACT: Numbers after the decimal point are considered fractions. 5 is one half, not “five” and is greater than. 25 which is one quarter, not “twenty-five”

When books have the same classification number Examine Row 2 referred to as the Cutter number Hint: Assume the 2 nd row is after the decimal point and Treat as a fraction WY 150 H 114 before WY 150 M 5 before WY 150 M 89

Challenge: A cutter number may be further defined by letters Think alphabetically WM 30 N 23 h WM 30 before N 23 k

Row 3 and 4 help further define the book by Year, Volume, or Copy number WY 101 R 423 1986 WY 101 R 423 1990 WY 101 R 423 1995 v. 1 WY 101 R 423 1995 v. 2 Hint: If there is no copy number, presume it is copy 1 WY 18 J 595 1994 c. 2

Now you try! Question #1 : Select the correct order of the following call numbers by clicking on A, B, or C. A 2, 3, 4, 2 B 4, 1, 3, 2 C 3, 2, 4, 1 QS 39 M 822 e 2002 c. 2 1 QS 4 A 52 a 2000 2 QS 4 A 159 a 2000 3 QS 39 M 822 e 2002 4

Sorry! Click HERE to try again Hint: Think of the WHOLE number when considering the first row only.

Correct! Please click anywhere to continue

Congratulations! for completing this training module and for proving your Excellent Shelving Skills