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Reference Materials: Using the Library Catalog

This guide is intended as a compilation of the most frequently used general reference sources.

Finding Books Using the Library Catalog

Library Catalog
The TCU Online Catalog is the database that includes all of the Library's book, magazine/journal, music, and video holdings.

Call Number Ranges
Every item in the Mary Couts Burnett Library has a unique call number. Most of the items in the Library have a Library of Congress (LC) Classification number. The Government Documents collection uses the Superintendent of Documents (SuDoc) Classification System. A call number is simply an address for a book or other material in the library. No two items will have exactly the same call number. Notice that call numbers in the catalog are often preceded by a location designation. Most books include the prefix "Main Stacks," which generally refers to the basement. The only exception is for call numbers beginning with B, M, or N. These books are located on the 2nd floor.