How call numbers work

All print or paper copies of books in the library are assigned a call number, usually found on the book spine.

The call number represents what the book is about and acts like the book's address on the library's shelves or stacks. Because books on the shelves are arranged in call number order, you will find books on similar subjects shelved near each other.

At the SFU Library, we use the Library of Congress (LC) classification system. LC call numbers are made up of letters and numbers and look something like this:

PR 8923 W6 L36 1990 c.3

Read the call number from left to right. The first part of a call number, PR 8923, consists of a combination of one or two letters and a number that indicates a specific subject area.

The next part, W6 L36, identifies a specific title within the range of books on that topic, 1990 is the date of publication, and c.3 indicates it is the third copy in the library.

 Finding your book once you have a call number

Once you have a call number for your book (or other item), you can use the floor plan link in the book's Catalogue record to see the area of the Library where you can find the book. 

Or check these SFU Library maps to find the location.

Steps for finding your call number on the shelf

1. Start with finding the first letter of your call number. For the example above, call numbers starting with P are on the 5th floor of the W.A.C. Bennett Library in Burnaby.
2. Call numbers beginning with a single letter come before call numbers with a second letter, e.g.: P before PA, then PB, PC, and so on until PR.
3. Once you are in the correct letter area (in this example, PR), the books are in number order, e.g.: PR 8923 comes after PR 90 and before PR 9000.
4. The next part of the call number is read like decimals, e.g.: PR 8914 J46 1992 comes before PR 8914 J6
5. Many books also include the year of publication. In this example it is 1990. This will help you find the right edition, if there is more than one.

 Using call numbers to browse the shelves

To browse a general subject area, you can start by finding the call number for a book or books on your subject, then looking at the shelves nearby.

Or you can use tools like the Library of Congress Classification Outline to get more specific subclassifications to browse, such as: BC for Logic; MT for Music Instruction and Study;  QP for Physiology. (Note that these are still large categories, and depending on the size of the library where you are searching, you may be overwhelmed with results!)

 Library of Congress (LC) classification system and call numbers (subject classifications)

The Library of Congress classification system divides subjects into 21 very broad categories:

A - General Works
B - Philosophy, Psychology, Religion
C – History - Civilization
D - History – General (not U.S.)
E - U.S. History
F - U.S. Local History and Latin American History
G - Geography, Anthropology, Recreation
H - Social Sciences
J - Political Science
K - Law
L - Education
M - Music
N - Fine Arts
P - Language & Literature
Q - Science
R - Medicine
S - Agriculture
T - Technology
U - Military Science
V - Naval Science
Z - Information Science

A citation is a reference to a source. The citation gives a concise description of the book, article, web page, etc., and includes the author, title, name of periodical and volume (for articles), publisher, date, and other identifying information.

For help finding an article from a citation, see From Citation to Article.

For help citing your sources, see the Library's Writing and Style Guides. 

A course pack is a compilation of works (typically readings) from more than one source. Paper course packs are no longer available, but the Bookstore can produce a digital course pack. Please contact the Custom Course Materials Coordinator for more information on how to create a course pack as well as important deadlines.

Why is there sometimes a fee for copyright protected material in a course pack?

Copyright owners and creators of works have the right to charge a fee for the use of their materials unless fair dealing, another Copyright Act exception or a Library license otherwise covers the use. The cost of course packs varies depending on the copyright fees charged by the copyright owner, the number of pages and documents, and the volume of course packs being produced. Those costs are generally reflected in the selling price of the course pack, over which SFU has no control. Copyright fees are collected on behalf of the copyright owners and remitted to them.

If I only have a couple of readings, are there other options?

If the readings you need fall within the fair dealing and related guidelines (detailed on the Copyright and Teaching infographic), you can copy them yourself and post them in Canvas, or place them on reserve through the Library. If you only need one or two readings that exceed fair dealing but are not enough to put together a course pack, you may be eligible for the Copyright Clearance Fund which will pay for any copyright clearance fees for the readings. See details on the Copyright Clearance Fund page to determine if this service fits your needs.

Note: There are some special cases, such as reproducing out-of-print books or rare/fragile materials, which may take longer for copyright clearance. When you place your order, the Custom Course Materials Coordinator can assess what copyright clearance may be required. Obtaining clearances for such materials can take quite some time (an average of 6-8 weeks or more) so ensure you submit your requests early to be assured that your course pack will be available in time. You will need to comply with any deadlines as set out by the Bookstore.

SFU Library uses the word database for any electronic periodical index or journal article search engine.

View the SFU library databases list to find a database in your area of study.

Definition

A DOI (digital object identifier) is a unique number used to permanently identify online articles, documents, and other objects -- including journal articles in electronic databases, datasets, audio/video content, ebooks, and research reports.

Because the DOI is permanent, this is a more reliable way to tell your reader where you found the article than location information like a URL or a database name, which may change over time or be hidden behind a proxy server.

A DOI is made up of a string of numbers, letters, and symbols, e.g.:

• DOI: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000002295
• doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2010.10.001
• 10.1093/jahist/jay280

Find an article, dataset, or other object from a DOI

You can use a DOI resolver to track down known articles for which you have a DOI number. Just copy and paste the DOI to be directed to the article. 

A footnote is a numbered or marked citation at the bottom of a page that acknowledges the source of quotations or ideas discussed in the text of the above page. Can also appear at the end of a chapter, book or article. Some citation styles allow a parenthetical reference instead of a numbered footnote.

Definitions

Journal articles are shorter than books and written about very specific topics. 

A journal is a collection of articles (like a magazine) that is published regularly throughout the year. Journals present the most recent research, and journal articles are written by experts, for experts. They may be published in print or online formats, or both. 

Sample images

The front cover of a sample academic journal (PORTAL: Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies). Note that it includes a year, as well as "Vol." (for "Volume") and "No." (for "Number"). Because journals are published regularly, this information identifies different issues (like month and year on a popular magazine).

A sample table of contents from the same academic journal, listing the articles that appear in this issue. (Note: When accessing journals online, articles are usually available as separate PDF documents.)

A sample article (first page) from the same academic journal:

More information

Finding academic or scholarly journal articles
Tips for searching for journal articles in the Library.

What is a scholarly (or peer-reviewed) journal?
For the differences between scholarly journals, magazines, and trade publications -- and when to use them.

Finding and evaluating sources
Searching for and evaluating sources on the open web, with tips for evaluating all sources, including journals and journal articles.

What is peer review? What is a peer-reviewed journal?
What peer review means and how to tell if a journal is peer-reviewed.

Most users of the SFU Library (SFU students, faculty, and staff) can use their SFU computing ID to log into the Library Catalogue, and access licenced Library resources from off-campus. 

If you have an SFU ID card but not an SFU computing ID, follow these instructions to use your barcode to access Library resources.

Finding your Library barcode

On your SFU ID card 

Your SFU Library barcode is the number that begins with 29345... on your SFU ID card, which is also your library card.  It is not the same as your student number.

On the SFU Snap App

You can also find your barcode number on the official SFU Snap App.

Virtual or online-only barcodes

Some users of the SFU Library don't have a physical card, but do have a barcode. This number usually begins with 49345....

Use your barcode to log in to your account and Library resources

Some borrowers, including non-credit students and external borrowers, don't have SFU computing IDs. If you don't have a SFU computing ID but do have a library barcode, you can use it to:

• Check your library account
• Renew books
• Request (or place holds on) books or other materials, including items that are checked out or at other SFU libraries
• Log in to access online resources from off-campus
• Request items from other libraries (eligible borrowers only).

How to log in

Barcode

Use your Library barcode number to log in to the Catalogue.

Password

Your initial (default) password will be based on your last name:

If your last name is at least 8 characters long, your password will be your last name as it appears in your Library record (case sensitive).

If your last name is shorter than 8 characters

For shorter names, the first time you log in your password will:

• be your last name as it appears in your Library record (case, space and hyphen sensitive)
• If your name is less than 8 characters you will have sequential ascending numbers as a place holder up to 7 characters.

Last Name Examples:

Choosing a new password

You have the option to reset your password by clicking on: 1) "Need help signing in?" and then 2) "Click here to reset your password."

Your new password must be at least 8 characters long.

Contact us for more help or to request a barcode

Talk to staff in Access Services (Loans and Circulation) for more help, including:

• To get help with your barcode password
• To request a Library barcode if you don't have a Library/student card

What is a literature Review?

Literature reviews periodically integrate the findings on a topic. They summarize studies and try to makes sense of the pattern of findings. They draw conclusions about what is known, what is not, and what should be. They are often a good place to begin studying the research on something. Meta-analyses are quantitative literature reviews, combining statistical findings across very different studies.

from: Dr. Hal S. Kopeikin's Introduction to Experimental Psychology class at UC Santa Barbara.

How do I find a literature review?

There is no consensus among the article databases for what subject headings are used to denote review articles. The most popular is, unsurprisingly, "literature review(s)". The easiest way to search, then, is to do a subject search and then narrow it down with the keyword "review". It will sometimes pull up book reviews, but that can't be helped.

Here are a few other terms you can use:

• "review article"
• "literature"
• "bibliography"
• "meta analysis of data"

Where can I find more information about writing and locating literature reviews?

• See Academic writing: What is a literature review? for tips for writing a lit review. 
• Literature reviews for graduate students, a starting point for graduate students, particularly in the social and behavioral sciences.
• Literature reviews in the applied sciences
• Media literature review guide: How to conduct a literature review of news sources

For further assistance,  Ask Us!