The Library of Congress [LC] Classification system is a system of letters and numbers assigned to a book based upon its topic. Books in university libraries are shelved according to the LC call number. This results in books on similar topics being shelved near each other on the shelves.
LC is used by Indiana State University Libraries for assigning call numbers to the bulk of its collections. The following chart provides a very simplified breakdown of the LC system and some of the subject areas represented by specific letters and letter combinations.
A General works, almanacs, encyclopedias, indexes, yearbooks
B Philosophy, psychology, religion
B-BD Philosophy
BF-BJ Psychology
BL-BX Religion
C History, archeology, heraldry, genealogy, biography
D History (except the Americas)
E General histories of the Americas and the United States
F State and local histories of the U.S.; individual countries of the Americas
G Geography, anthropology, sports
G-GN Geography, anthropology
GR-GT Folklore, manners, customs
GV Sports, amusements, games
H Social Sciences
HA Statistics
HB Economics
HG Finance
HM Sociology
J Political Science
JK United States
JS Local government
JX International law
K Law
KF United States law
KFA-KFW Law of individual states
L Education
LA History of education
LB Theory & practice of education
M Music
ML Literature of music
MT Music instruction & study
N Fine arts
NA Architecture
NB Sculpture
NC Graphic arts
ND Painting
P Language and literature
PA Classical language & literature
PB-PH Modern European languages
PN Literary history & collections, performing arts
PQ Romance literature
PR English literature
PS American literature
Q Science
QA Mathematics
QC Physics
QD Chemistry
QE Geology
QL Zoology
R Medicine
RC Internal medicine
RD Surgery
RT Nursing
S Agriculture
T Technology
TD Environmental engineering
TJ Mechanical engineering
TP Chemical engineering
U Military science
V Naval Science
Z Library science. Information resources
