WVU Tech Library organizes its book collections using the Library of Congress Classification System. This is an alpha-numeric hierarchical system in which all knowledge is divided into 21 main classes. Each main class is identified by a single letter. For example, World History is classed under D. See the outline below. Subclasses of knowledge are then broken down and identified by two-letter arrangement. For example, books about the History of Great Britain are classed under DA. Topics are assigned whole numbers. An example would be DA129-260 are books covering Early and Medieval to 1485; and subtopics or authors are given decimal numbers combined with a letter and is known as the cutter line.
Examples:
D E E
505 12 208
.W35 .T526 .B68
D = World History E = America E = America
505 = World War I 12 = General 208 = The Revolution, 2775-1783
.W = author's last name Walton ,T = Time-Life books .B68 = author's last name Boatner
35 = based on the cutter table 526 = based on cutter table 68 = based on cutter table
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