Koha-instructions

Understanding the Dewey Decimal System

Our New Catalog

To find a book in our  library, first search the catalog.  (O.P.A.C.)

Koha is the on-line catalog our school library uses. An ON-LINE CATALOG, or OPAC ( Online Public Access Catalog)  is a listing of all items held in the library. Whenever a new item is added to our collection, the librarian enters the item into the library's online catalog database (the computer) where information about the item including author's name, title, summary of item, subject classification, etc. is separated into different categories called "fields".

These different fields are then used by library patrons to search for desired materials. Library patrons are able to search the contents of the ON-LINE CATALOG by typing in either a:

• Keyword
• Subject
• Title 
• Author
• ISBN #

The default (the first choice given in the drop-down menu is "Library Catalog" which means that it will search more than one field.

                                            *After you've clicked on the title you're interested in,

make sure you click on the icon that says, "card view" to find out what the book's about

So how do I actually find the physical book? 

By looking at the first screen of the record for a particular book, you can tell if the book is  owned by our library.  Click the title of the book to see if the  book is available and what the call number is.

The Call Number - A Book's Address in the Library

Call numbers are on the spine of the book.  The call number is the book's address in the library.  It tells you where the book can be found.   Following is a brief overview of what the call number contains.

Nonfiction
Nonfiction are books that inform the reader.  The author must present facts without distorting the truth.  Nonfiction call numbers are the Dewey classification number, and then the first three letters of the author's last name.  These call numbers put all the books about the same subject together, in alphabetical order by the author's last name.

Individual Biography (B)
The call number for an individual biography is the letter B and the first three letters of the last name of the person who the book is written about.  All books about the same person are grouped together.  Books are shelved in alphabetical order, making it easier to find a book about a specific person.  Biographies are located on the shelves under the windows between the professional collection and the VHS collection.

Collective Biography (920)
A collective biography is about more than one person.  The call number uses the Dewey number 920 for collective biography, and then the first three letters of the author's last name.  These books are shelved in the nonfiction collection.

Reference Books (REF)
Reference books provide extensive information on one or several subjects.  These books do not circulate and must be used in the library.   The call numbers of reference books have a first line of "REF," then the  Dewey number for the subject covered, then the first three letters of the author's last name, or the first three letters of the title if the author is not identified.  The reference collection is located behind the circulation desk. 

Fiction
Fiction books are books whose purpose is to entertain the reader.  They are the product of the author's imagination.  While there may be factual events or persons in the story, a fiction book is not meant to be a resource of information.  For fiction, the call number is “FIC”  and then the first three letters of the author's last name.  Even though it is made up of letters, we still call it a call number.  Many of our fiction books have stickers showing the type of fiction book they are (Historical Fiction, Science Fiction etc.) 

Professional Collection (PROF)  The professional collection  call number is PROF followed by the Dewey Decimal number and then the first three letters of the author's last name.  These books are located on the shelves under the windows. Though intended for the faculty and staff, these books may be checked out by students.

VHS Collection (VHS) The VHS collection is organized by accession number only and is not entered into the online catalog.  Use the notebook entitled AWHS Library Video Collection to find videos in alphabetical order by title or accession number.

DVD Collection (DVD)   Feature films are given the call number DVD and the first three letters of the title of the film.  Nonfiction DVD's are found under the  Dewey Decimal number and then the first three letters of the title.   The DVD Collection is located behind the circulation desk.  See Mrs. Sands for help with the collection.

Oversize Collection (OV) The oversize collection consists of books too large to fit on the standard library shelf.  Books are found by the call number OV followed by Dewey Decimal number and first three letters of the author's last name.  The oversize collection is found at the end of the Nonfiction collection.

Yearbooks  The AWHS library has a collection of yearbooks spanning from 1953 through 2009 with the exception of 1954, 1963 and 1975.

 Understanding the Dewey Decimal System

With thousands of books in a library, a system was needed to make it as easy as possible for a person to find what they needed.  A librarian named Melville Dewey devised a system that is in use by most small libraries around the world.

The system uses numbers.  The numbers have meaning, so those books about the same topic are grouped together.  Each book has three digits.  After the third digit, a decimal point is used and as many digits as necessary can be added after the decimal point.

 If you know the Dewey number of the topic you are researching, you know that all other books on that topic have the same Dewey number and will be located together in the library.

Ten Main Classes

  How Do I Request a Book?

Find the book you'd like to borrow  (search the entire Masscat Network or just the AWHS Library and click "Place a Hold"

Enter your user ID# & Password

Your user ID# is  2003800 followed by your 7 digit school id#  (example: 20038001234567)

Your Password is AWHS(all Caps) until you change it.

When your book arrives you will be notified by Mrs. Sands (or you can check your account online for the status of your request!)