Step 1: Find the item on Library Search
- Search for the book on Library Search
- Check it's available (1) - if it's unavailable you can reserve it
- Check the location (2)
- Make a note of the shelfmark (3)
What is a shelfmark?
- A shelfmark is a group of letters and numbers which tell us where the item is shelved in the library
- Example: GBE 653.3 LEW
- Each book has its own shelfmark which is usually displayed on its spine
- The books are arranged alphanumerically by shelfmark
Step 2: Go to the location
Mile End Library:
- First floor
- North Reading Room: Books with shelfmarks P-Z
- South Reading Room: Print journals; law reports and statutes
- Second floor
- North Reading Room: Books with shelfmarks A-P; DVDs
- South Reading Room: Print journals
Whitechapel Library:
- Ground floor: books
- Basement: Print journals
West Smithfield Library:
- Ground floor: books
Step 2: Find the shelf
- Look at the shelf subject guides at the end of each shelf to find the range of shelfmarks where the book is located
- Work along the shelf until you find the book
- The books are in alphanumeric order
Browsing the shelves
You might want to browse the shelves for books related to your subject of interest. Use the subject shelfmark guides to find the shelfmark for your subject.
Mile End Library subject shelfmark guide
| Subject | Shelfmark |
|---|---|
|
Aeronautical engineering |
TL |
|
Aesthetics |
BH |
|
Africa (History) |
DT |
|
Africa, Asia (Political Science) |
JQ, JS, JV |
|
African Literature |
PS |
|
Ageing |
QP86 |
|
Agiosperms |
QK495 |
|
Agriculture |
S |
|
Algae |
QK565 |
|
Alternative medicine |
R733 |
|
American Literature |
PS |
|
Anglo-Saxon |
PB |
|
Animal Behaviour |
QL751 |
|
Animal culture |
SF |
|
Animal Intelligence |
QL785 |
|
Animal physiology |
QP31 |
|
Anthropology |
GN |
|
Aquaculture |
SH |
|
Arachnida |
QL451 |
|
Archaeology |
CC, CD, CE, CJ, CN, CR, CS, CT |
|
Architecture |
NA |
|
Art |
N |
|
Art by Country |
N |
|
Arthropoda |
QL434 |
|
Asia (History) |
DS |
|
Astronomy |
QB |
|
Atlases of human anatomy |
QM25 |
|
Australia (History) |
DU |
|
Australian Literature |
PS |
|
Austrian Literature |
PT |
|
Austro-Hungarian History |
DB |
|
Bacterial systematics |
QR82 |
|
Balkans (History) |
DR |
|
Belgium (History) |
DH |
|
Biology |
QH |
|
Biology of Fishes |
QL615 |
|
Biomedical engineering |
R856 |
|
Biotechnology |
QR53 |
|
Birds |
QL673 |
|
Blood |
QP91 |
|
Botany |
QK |
|
Botany textbooks |
QK47 |
|
Brain |
QM455 |
|
British History |
DA |
|
Building construction |
TH |
|
Business Finance, Investment |
HG4006 |
|
Calculus |
QA |
|
Canada (Law) |
KE, KEA |
|
Canadian & Latin American History |
F |
|
Canadian Literature |
PS |
|
Cardiovascular systems |
QP102 |
|
Caribbean Literature |
PS |
|
Cartography |
GA |
|
Catalan |
PB |
|
Celtic |
PB |
|
Chemistry |
QD |
|
Christianity |
BR, BS, BX |
|
Circuit analysis |
TK |
|
Classical Philology and Languages |
PA |
|
Coelenterata (cnidaria) |
QL375 |
|
Community medicine |
RA485 |
|
Comparative Anatomy (individual organs of animals) |
QL805 |
|
Computer Science, Databases, Networks |
QA |
|
Crustacea |
QL435 |
|
Cryptograms |
QK505 |
|
Decorative arts |
NK, NX |
|
Dental anatomy (includes Oral Histology/Embryology) |
QM306 |
|
Dental microbiology |
QR47 |
|
Dentistry |
RK |
|
Doctor-Patient relations/ communication |
R727 |
|
Drawing, Design, Illustration, Commercial Art |
NC |
|
Early Modern |
PB |
|
Eastern Europe (History) |
DJK |
|
Economic history by country |
HC |
|
Economics |
HB |
|
Education |
L, LA, LB, LC, LF |
|
Electrical engineering |
TK |
|
Embryology |
QL955 |
|
Endocrinology |
QP187 |
|
Engineering |
T |
|
Engineering mathematics |
TA |
|
English Language |
PE |
|
English Literature |
PR |
|
Entomology |
QL462 |
|
Environmental engineering |
TD |
|
Ethnic groups |
RA564.9 |
|
Europe (Law) |
KJ |
|
Europe (Political Science) |
JN |
|
European Union Law |
KJE, KJV |
|
Film |
PN |
|
Finance |
HG |
|
Fish Physiology |
QL639.1 |
|
Flora of Britain |
QK306 |
|
Flora of Europe |
QK281 |
|
Forestry |
SD |
|
French |
PB |
|
French History |
DC |
|
French Language |
PC |
|
French Literature |
PQ |
|
Funghi |
QK601 |
|
Gastro-intestinal system |
QP145 |
|
General and civil engineering |
TA |
|
General Science |
Q |
|
General Zoology textbooks |
QL47 |
|
Geography |
G |
|
Geology |
GBE |
|
German History |
DD |
|
German Language |
PF |
|
German Literature |
PT |
|
Germanic |
PB |
|
Great Britain (Political Science) |
JN 101 |
|
Greco-Roman History |
DE |
|
Greek History |
DF |
|
Gymnosperms |
QK494 |
|
Heart |
QP111 |
|
Hepaticae |
QK553 |
|
Histology |
QM551 |
|
History |
D |
|
History of Art |
N |
|
History of Civilization |
CB |
|
Holland (History) |
DJ |
|
Human Anatomy |
QM |
|
Human Anatomy |
QM23 |
|
Human development |
QP84 |
|
Human Geography |
GF |
|
Human physiology |
QP34 |
|
Human physiology & the environment |
QP82 |
|
Hunting |
SK |
|
Hydraulic engineering |
TC |
|
Immunology |
QR181 |
|
Indian Literature |
PS |
|
Intelligence Services |
JWB |
|
International Relations |
JX |
|
Invertebrates |
QL362 |
|
Irish Literature in English |
PS |
|
Islam |
BP |
|
Italian |
PB |
|
Italian History (from ancient Rome) |
DG |
|
Italian Language |
PC |
|
Italian Literature |
PQ |
|
Judaism |
BM |
|
Laboratory Animals |
QL55 |
|
Latin American Literature |
PQ |
|
LAW |
|
|
Law in general, Jurisprudence |
K, KAH, KAJ |
|
Law of the sea |
KZA |
|
Law of the United Kingdom and Ireland |
KD |
|
Library Sciences |
Z |
|
Linguistics |
P |
|
Literary criticism and history |
PR |
|
Logic |
BC |
|
Mammals |
QL703 |
|
Management, Organization of Production |
HD28 |
|
Marine algae |
QK570.2 |
|
Material engineering |
TM |
|
Mathematics |
QA |
|
Medical dictionaries |
R121 |
|
Medical economics |
RA410 |
|
Medical materials |
R857.M3 |
|
Medical microbiology |
QR46 |
|
Medical psychology / Health psychology |
R726.5 |
|
Medical sociology |
RA418 |
|
Medical statistics |
RA409 |
|
Medical textbooks |
R46 |
|
Medicine |
R |
|
Metabolism |
QP171 |
|
Microbial ecology |
QR100 |
|
Microbiology |
QR9-QR502 |
|
Microbiology - general textbooks |
QR41 |
|
Middle English |
PB |
|
Military Science |
JW, JWA |
|
Modern languages |
PB |
|
Mollusca |
QL403 |
|
Motor vehicles |
TL |
|
Musci (Mosses) |
QK537 |
|
Museum Theory |
AE, AG, AM, AP, AS, AZ |
|
Music |
M, ML, MT |
|
Myriapoda |
QL449 |
|
National Health Service (NHS) |
RA412.5.G7 |
|
Netherland (History) |
DH |
|
Neuroanatomy |
QM451 |
|
Neurology |
RC |
|
Norse (Language) |
PB |
|
Northern Europe (History) |
DL |
|
Obstetrics & Gynaecology |
RG |
|
Oncology |
RC |
|
Ophtalmology |
RE |
|
Otorhinolaryngology |
RF |
|
Painting |
ND, NE |
|
Parasitology |
QL757 |
|
Pathology |
RB |
|
Pediatrics |
RJ |
|
Philosophy |
B |
|
Philosophy of Art |
N |
|
Physical Geography |
GB |
|
Physics |
QC |
|
Physiology |
QP21-QP981.C28 |
|
Physiology of Invertebrates |
QL364 |
|
Phytochemistry |
QK861 |
|
Plant Cell & Tissues |
QK725 |
|
Plant Geography |
QK101 |
|
Plant Growth & Development |
QK731 |
|
Plant Hormones |
QK745 |
|
Plant Physiology |
QK711 |
|
Plant Systematics & Taxonomy |
QK95 |
|
Political sciences |
JA, JC, JF |
|
Politics |
J |
|
Pollen |
QK658 |
|
Portuguese |
PB |
|
Portuguese Literature |
PQ |
|
Post Colonial Literature |
PS |
|
Protozoa |
QL366 |
|
Psychiatry |
RC |
|
Psychology |
BF |
|
Pteridophyta (Ferns) |
QK522 |
|
Public finance, taxation |
HJ |
|
Railways |
TF |
|
Religions, Mythology |
BL |
|
Religious Art |
N |
|
Religious law |
KB, KBB, KBD, KBL, KBP |
|
Reproduction |
QK825 |
|
Reproduction |
QK825 |
|
Reptiles & Amphibians |
QL641 |
|
Reptiles & Amphibians |
QL641 |
|
Research/ Biomedical technology |
R850-R855 |
|
Respiratory system |
QP121 |
|
Respiratory system |
QP121 |
|
Roads |
TE |
|
Romance Languages |
PB |
|
Rumanian |
PB |
|
Russia |
DK |
|
Russia (History) |
DK |
|
Russian Language & Literature |
PG |
|
Russian Language & Literature |
PG |
|
Scandinavian Literature |
PT |
|
Scandinavian Literature |
PT |
|
Sculpture |
NB |
|
Sculpture |
NB |
|
Social Sciences |
H |
|
Sociology |
HM, HN, HQ, HS, HT, HV |
|
Spain |
DP |
|
Spain (History) |
DP |
|
Spanish |
PB |
|
Spanish Language |
PC |
|
Spanish Literature |
PQ |
|
Statistics |
HA |
|
STATUTES |
|
|
Surgery |
RD |
|
Swiss-German Literature |
PT |
|
The aged |
RA564.8 |
|
Theatre |
PN |
|
Tissues |
QP88 |
|
Trees and Shrubs |
QK475 |
|
U.S.A. History |
E |
|
United States (Political Science) |
JK, JL |
|
USA (Law) |
KF, KFM, KFN, KFV, KFZ, KGJ, KGS, KHB, KHD, KHH, KJ, KJC |
|
Virology |
QR360 |
|
Voyages and Expeditions |
QL4 |
|
West Germanic |
PB |
|
Women's health |
RA564.85 |
|
Worms |
QL386 |
|
Zoology |
QL |
Whitechapel Library subject shelfmark guide
| Subject | Shelfmark |
|---|---|
| Anaesthetics | WO200 |
| Anatomy | QS |
| Biochem. Cell Biology, Genetics | QU |
| Biometry | QH323.5 |
| Cancer | QZ200 |
| Cardiovascular system | WG |
| Chemistry | QD |
| Child Psychiatry | WS350 |
| Chronic Disease | WT500 |
| Clinical Pathology | QY90 |
| Communicable Disease | WC |
| Cytology | QH573 |
| Dental Anaesthetics | WO460 |
| Dental Anatomy | WU101 |
| Dental Materials | WU190 |
| Dental Public Health | WU113 |
| Dental Radiology | WN230 |
| Dentistry | WU |
| Dermatology | WR |
| Digestive system | WI |
| Education | L |
| Embryology | QS604 |
| Endocrine system | WK |
| Endodontics | WU230 |
| Epidemiology | WA105 |
| Forensic Medicine | W700 |
| General Medicine & Practice | WB |
| Genetics | QZ50 |
| Geriatrics | WT |
| Gynaecology | WP |
| Haemic & Lymphatic systems | WH |
| Histology | QS504 |
| Immune Disorders | WD300 |
| Immunology | QW501 |
| Medical Education | W18 |
| Medical Ethics | W50 |
| Metabolic Diseases | WD200 |
| Microbiology | QW |
| Musculoskeletal system | WE |
| Nephrology | WJ300 |
| Nervous system | WL |
| Neuroanatomy | WL101 |
| Neurophysiology | WL102 |
| Neurosurgery | WL368 |
| Nursing | WY |
| Obstetrics | WQ |
| Operative Dentistry | WU300 |
| Ophthalmology | WW |
| Oral Microbiology | QW65 |
| Oral Pathology | WU140 |
| Oral Physiology | WU102 |
| Oral Surgery | WU600 |
| Orthodontics | WU400 |
| Orthopaedics | WE168 |
| Otolaryngology | WV |
| Paediatrics | WS |
| Paedodontics | WU480 |
| Parasitology | QX |
| Pathology | QZ |
| Periodontics | WU240 |
| Pharmacology | QV |
| Physical Therapy | WB460 |
| Physiology | QT |
| Practice of Medicine | WB |
| Prosthetics | WU500 |
| Psychiatry | WM |
| Psychology | BF |
| Public Health | WA |
| Radiology, Diagnostic Imaging | WN |
| Radiotherapy | QZ269 |
| Respiratory system | WF |
| Rheumatology | WE540 |
| Social Medicine | WA31 |
| Social Science | H |
| Sports Medicine | QT260 |
| Statistics | QA |
| Surgery | WO |
| Therapeutics | WB300 |
| Toxicology | QV600 |
| Urogenital system | WJ |
| Viral Infections | WC500 |
| Virology | QW160 |