Using the Library 
"E"  Fiction "F" (Fiction)
Non-Fiction (Dewey) Biography
Reference Magazine
Card Catalog Check Out/Book Return
 
 

What kinds of books are in the "E" or "Everybody" section
of the library?  top
 

The "E" or "everybody" section of the library is where you can find fiction.  Fiction books are books that contain stories that are made up in the mind of the author.

Books in the "E" section are a little easier to read so everybody in the school can go to this section and probably find something they would like to borrow.

These books are put in order on the shelf  by the first three letters of the author's LAST name.  For example, all the "Arthur" books are in the same area shelved under "BRO" (the author is Marc Brown).  A few authors that have many books shelved in this section include:

    - Jan Brett                - Lillian Hoban
    - Eric Carle               - Ezra Jack Keats
    - Tomie de Paola      - Chris Van Allsburg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


What kinds of books are shelved in the "F" section of the library? top

Fictional books are kept in the "F" section of the library.  (Notice the "F" on the spine label).  Fiction books are books that contain stories that are made up in the mind of the author.

The "F" or Fiction section of the library is where you can find great chapter books that are a little harder to read than books in the "everybody" section.

These books are shelved by the first three letters of the author's LAST name.  For example, all the "Little House on the Prairie" books are shelved under "WIL" (the author is Laura Ingalls Wilder).

A few authors that have many books shelved in this section include:
 

    - Beverly Cleary            - Joanna Hurwitz
    - Roald Dahl                 - C.S. Lewis
    - Paula Danziger           - Jon Scieszka

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Where can I find Non-Fiction books?  top

Non-Fiction are kept in the Dewey section of the library.

Non-Fiction books are based on facts.  They tell you about people, places, and how to make or do things.  They give you a lot of information so they are good to use when doing research.

Non-Fiction books are arranged according to the Dewey Decimal System and then the first three letters of the author's last name.

    What is the Dewey Decimal System?

It is a system of  organizing a library's collection according to ten main categories:
 
 
 

000-099 General Works 500-599 Pure Science
100-199 Philosophy  600-699 Technology & Applied Science
200-299 Religion 700-799 The Arts & Recreation
300-399 Social Science 800-899 Poetry, Plays, Literature
400-499 Language 900-999 Geography & History
 
Each subject in the Dewey Decimal System has a number.  For example, the number for books about birds is 598.2.  If you go to the Dewey section where the 598.2's are shelved, you'll see that all the books have to do with the subject "Birds".  This makes it a lot easier to find what you're looking for when you come to the library!

Click here to find out more!  "Do we" really know Dewey?   Great site on learning the Dewey system!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Where can I find Biographies in the library?  top

Biographies are books that are written about a person's life.  You can find biographies in the "B" section of our library.  These books are put in order by the first three letters of the LAST name of the person the book is written about.

For example:  If you want to find a book about Abraham Lincoln, look in the "B" section and find "LIN" (for Lincoln).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


What are Reference books?  top

Reference books are books that give you lots of information.  These books include:
    - encyclopedias
    - dictionaries
    - almanacs
    - atlases

Reference books are great to use when you're doing research.  Reference books are used in the Library Media Center only.  You can not check them out.  They're always in the library so everyone can use them when they need to.
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


What are Magazines?  top

Magazines are soft cover books that contain up-to-date information.  Most of the magazines in our library are published every month, so the library gets a new issue of the magazine every month.  Some of the magazines our library subscribes to include:
 

- Zoonooz
- American Girl
- Sports Illustrated for Kids
- Cobblestone
- Zillions
- Contact for Kids
- Owl
- Faces
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


How do I use the Card Catalog?  top

Once you learn how to use the card catalog, you can find any book in the library.  It's like a giant telephone book for all the books on the shelves!  These cards give you the address where the book "lives" in the library!

There are 3 types of cards in the card catalog:
 
 

TITLE TITLE cards are in ABC order in the card catalog by the TITLE of the book.
AUTHOR AUTHOR cards are in ABC order in the card catalog by the  LAST NAME of the AUTHOR who wrote the book
SUBJECT SUBJECT cards are in ABC order in the card catalog by the SUBJECT of the book
 
The catalog card gives a LOT of information about each book in the library!  Catalog cards tell you:
 
- The Call Number or address of the book
- The Author
- The publisher and place of publication
- Copyright Date
- A few sentences describing what the book is about 
 
 
If you're looking for a book about dinosaurs, you would go to the "D" drawer of the card catalog and look up the word "Dinosaur".  You would find quite a few SUBJECT cards with the word "DINOSAUR" in capital letters at the top.  The address, or call number is in the left hand corner.  For example:              
 
 
567.9  DINOSAURS
FLI
Flintstone, Dino
All about dinosaurs.  Rock City, New York.
Stone Press, 1999.
This book describes a day in the life of a dinosaur in the Stone Age.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


I found a great book.  How do I borrow it?  When I'm finished with it, how do I return it?  top

The Check Out Desk and Book Return are the first places you come to when you come into the Library Media Center!    When you want to borrow a book, you need to go to the check out desk and do the following:
 
 

1. Take the book card out of the pocket of the book
2. Sign your name on the next blank space
3. Put your room number next to your name
4. Put the book card in the "signed out cards" box
5. Put a card with your room number on it in the book pocket
6. Enjoy your library book!
 
When you are finished reading a book you have borrowed, you need to return it to the book return with the spine of the book facing out.