Understanding Shelfmarks

The Library’s collection is divided into broad subject areas (e.g. History, Literature, and Topography) and then into smaller areas, arranged alphabetically. Within each subject category, books are arranged alphabetically by their author’s surname or, in the case of edited collections or books with multiple authors, by their title. Check the Catalogue record for the ‘shelved under’ information. Books in the Literature collection can be identified by the prefix ‘L.’ in their shelfmark.

In order to make the most effective use of space, the collection is also shelved by size. Check the end of shelfmarks for the notations 4to. (Quarto), Small Folio, Folio, and Folio Extra Large, which may indicate a different place to look for the books.

Image of the shelfmark as it appears in the London Library online catalogue

Above is an example of a book record from the Catalogue. Here you can see that the book is available (i.e. on the shelf) at in the New Books section in the sub-section for Literature, Hist. of (Gen) and then shelved under the author Wren, Joad R.

Labels on the edges of the shelves will guide you through the section. Some shelfmarks are large, such as L. French Fiction and are subdivided further by letters marking the authors’ surnames (or titles in the case of edited collections).

Books may be requested and put aside ready for collection, but we would always encourage members to browse the shelves and discover books serendipitously. Items from the Library’s Special Collections cannot be borrowed but may be consulted in the Library under supervised conditions, given 72 hours’ notice.