Books in the library are organized by call number. A call number indicates the spot of each book on the shelf. The call number also indicates the subject of the book. For example, all scientific books on medicine will be in the 600s. To learn which numbers match with each subject area, click here.
The library catalog includes the call number for each book. An example of a call number is:
616.053 R223 2018
This book will be located in the 600s section of the stacks in numerical order. Locate this book by moving numerically and alphabetically from left to right. There may not be a book cataloged for every number and letter, but they will still be in numerical and alphabetical order.
First, the hundreds:
615
616
617
Then the decimal:
616.051
616.053
616.054
Then the letter:
616.053 Q
616.053 R
616.053 T
Then the final decimal:
616.053 R222
616.053 R223
616.053 R224
Finally, the year, if present:
616.053 R223
616.053 R223 2018
616.053 R223 2020
The Merck Manuals are a series of healthcare books created and intended for medical professionals and consumers. These online manuals are updated periodically with new information.