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.

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.

An example of how a philosophy text appears in the 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) in the Philosophy section and shelved under Wittgenstein.

Labels on the edges of the shelves will guide you through the section. Some shelfmarks are large 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 for themselves and discover the books they did not know they needed. Items from the Library’s Special Collections that cannot be borrowed can be consulted in the Library under supervised conditions with 72 hours’ notice.