The Stony Brook University Libraries use Library of Congress call numbers in most locations,
except the Health Sciences Library (where National Library of Medicine classification is used).
The Main Stacks contains collections of journals, serials, and books for the study of numerous
disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. The location code MAIN refers to the materials
housed on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors of the Main Library. The North Reading Room houses collections
related to science and engineering.
First Letter of the Call Number
Floor Where the Item is Located
A - E
2nd floor
F - N
3rd floor
P
4th floor
Q - Z
3rd floor
Use the Stacks stairs on the third floor
to get to the second and fourth floors.
All oversized books will have "x", "xx", or "xxx" indicated before the call number.
Single "x" indicates oversize; "xx" indicates double oversize, and "xxx" indicates
triple oversize. All oversize books are shelved at the end of the general collections
on each floor, beginning with single "x". The only exception to this is that "x" N's
(art books) are shelved with regular size N's. For detailed information, please consult
the stacks floor maps located on the second and fourth-floor landings in the stacks stairwell.
This does not apply to oversized material in Government Documents and the Reference Department,
where all sizes are shelved together.
Please ask desk staff to retrieve Cage material. You will need to present staff with call number
information. All Cage material must be checked out using your library ID card even when browsing
the material.
There are 21 main Library of Congress classifications:
A General Works B Philosophy, Psychology, Religion C Auxiliary Sciences of History D World History and History of Europe E History of the Americas F History of the Americas G Geography, Anthropology, Recreation H Social Sciences J Political Science K Law L Education M Music N Fine Arts P Language and Literature Q Science R Medicine S Agriculture T Technology U Military Science V Naval Science Z Bibliography, Library Science, Information Resources
The Main Stacks are located on the 3rd floor of the
Melville Library. You can find this library by walking up the stairs that are
located in the Main Hallway and turning right, or using the elevators at the
North or South ends of the Building to the 3rd floor and following our signage.
Once you are inside the Main Stacks, our 2nd and 4th floors are accessible
via the stairwells towards the left as you walk in. If you need assistance navigating
our libraries, you may contact any of our Circulation staff at our service desks, email us at circulation@stonybrook.edu or call
us at (631) 632-7115.
is located.
