The Library of Congress (LC) is a classification system you are most likely to see in academic Libraries. It is divided into 21 classes and further divided which gives the books their number and letter call numbers.
First is the classification number identified by a set of letters
This tells you what the subject is. The classifications are below.
The following numbers are further classes under the letters.
The third line is the cutter. It is usually followed by a decimal, but it isn't always the case. It is always imaginary or presumed there. Keep this in mind when looking for a specific book and do not see the decimal.
Did you know is most cases, the letter in the cutter represents the author's last name? Use this to help you look for your book as well.
Sometimes there is a second cutter line.
The last line is the publication year.
| AC Collections |
| AE Encyclopedias (see also in REF section) |
| AG Dictionaries (see also in REF sections) |
| AI Indexes |
| AS Academies in learned societies |
| AY Yearbooks, almanacs, directories |
| B Philosophy |
| BC Logic |
| BD Speculative philosophy |
| BF Psychology |
| BJ Ethics |
| BL Religions, mythology, rationalism |
| BM Judaism |
| BP Islam |
| BQ Buddhism |
| BR Christianity |
| BS The Bible |
| BT Doctrinal theology |
| BV Practical theology |
| BX Christian denominations |
| C Auxiliary Science of History |
| CB History of Civilization |
| CC Archaeology |
| CD Diplomats, archives, seals |
| CJ Numismatics |
| CN Inscriptions |
| CR Heraldry |
| CS Genealogy |
| CT Biography |
| D History (general) |
| DA Great Britain |
| DB Austria, Liechtenstein, Hungary, Czechoslovakia |
| DC France, Andorra, Monaco |
| DD Germany |
| DE Greco-Roman World |
| DF Greece |
| DG Italy |
| DJ Netherlands |
| DK Russia, Soviet Union, Former Soviet Republic |
| DL Northern Europe, Scandinavia |
| DP Spain, Portugal |
| DQ Switzerland |
| DR Balkan Peninsula |
| DS Asia |
| DT Africa |
| DU Oceania |
| DX Romantics |
Does not have subclasses.
Does not have subclasses.
| G Geography |
| GA Mathematical geography |
| GB Physical geography |
| GC Oceanography |
| GE Environmental Science |
| GF Human ecology |
| GN Anthropology |
| GR Folklore |
| GT Manners, customs |
| GV Recreation, leisure |
| H Social science (general) |
| HA Statistics |
| HB Economic theory |
| HC Economic history |
| HD Industry, land use, labor |
| HE Transportation, communications |
| HF Commerce |
| HG Finance |
| HJ Public finance |
| HM Sociology |
| HN Social history, conditions, problems, reform |
| HQ The family, marriage, women, sexuality |
| HS Societies |
| HT Communities, classes, races |
| HV Social pathology, social and public welfare, criminology |
| HX Socialism, communism, anarchism |
| J General legislative and executive papers |
| JA Political science |
| JC Political theory |
| JF Political institutions and public administrations |
| JJ North American |
| JK United States |
| JL Canada, Latin America |
| JN Europe |
| JQ Asia, Africa, Pacific |
| JS Local government |
| JV Colonies, colonization, emigration, immigration, migration |
| JX International law |
| JZ International relations |
| K Law (general) |
| KB Religious Law |
| KD United Kingdom and Ireland |
| KE Canada |
| KF United States |
| KG Latin America |
| KH South America |
| KJ Europe |
| KL Asia and Eurasia, Africa, Pacific area |
| KU Australia and New Zealand |
| KZ Law of Nations |
| L Education (general) |
| LA History of education |
| LB Education theory |
| LC Special aspects of education |
| LD Individual institutions (United States) |
| M Music (general) |
| ML Literature on music |
| MT Instruction and study |
| N Visual Arts |
| NA Architecture |
| NB Sculpture |
| NC Drawing, design, illustration |
| ND Paining |
| NE Print media |
| NK Decorative arts |
| NX Arts (general) |
The first half of this contains different language categories, grammar books, journalism guides, and books about media.
The second half contains classic (PR), leisure (generally PR, PS, PT), and young adult literature (PZ).
| Q Science (general) |
| QA Math |
| QB Astronomy |
| QC Physics |
| QD Chemistry |
| QE Geology |
| QH Natural history, biology |
| QK Botany |
| QL Zoology |
| QM Human anatomy |
| QP Physiology |
| QR Microbiology |
| R Medicine (general) |
| RA Public aspects of medicine |
| RB Pathology |
| RC Internal medicine |
| RD Surgery |
| RE Eyes |
| RF Head and Neck |
| RG Gynecology and Obstetrics |
| RJ Pediatrics |
| RK Dentistry |
| RL Dermatology |
| RM Therapeutics, pharmacology |
| RT Nursing |
| RV Botanic, Eclectic medicine |
| RX Homeopathy |
| RZ Others |
| S Agriculture (general) |
| SB Horticulture, plant propagation, breeding |
| SD Forestry, aboriculture |
| SF Animal husbandry, science |
| SH Aquaculutre, fisheries |
| SK Hunting |
| T Technology |
| TA Engineering |
| TC Hydraulic |
| TD Environmental |
| TE Highway |
| TF Railroad |
| TG Bridges |
| TH Building construction |
| TJ Mechanical |
| TK Electrical, electronics, nuclear |
| TL Motor vehicles, aeronautics, astronauts |
| TN Mining |
| TP Chemical |
| TR Photography |
| TS Mass production |
| TT Handicrafts, arts, crafts |
| TX Home economics |
| U Military science (general) |
| UA Armies |
| UB Military administration |
| UC Military maintenance, transportation |
| UD Infantry |
| UE Cavalry, armor |
| UF Artillery |
| UG Military engineering, Air forces |
| UG Other |
| V Naval Science (general) |
| VA Navies |
| VB Naval administration |
| VC Naval maintenance |
| VD Naval seamen |
| VE Marines |
| VF Naval ordnance |
| VG Minor services |
| VK Navigation |
| VM Architecture, shipbuilding, engineering |
