How to find documents in the library's collections using the BLISS classification system.

1. Finding Books
in theTavistock Library

2. As in most libraries,
the documents in the
Tavistock library are
organised by
shelfmark.

3. You will find the
shelfmark for a book at
the bottom of its record
on the catalogue.

4. You can also see if the
document is located in
the book room or in
the main library.

5. TheTavistock
Library uses a
classification
system called
BLISS.

6. It works by
theme, so
books on a
same topic
are placed
next to each
other.

7. For example:
- A is for
philosophy
- C is for
chemistry
- S is for law
- W is for arts
- …

8. Most of the
books in the
library start
with an i
because
i is for
psychology

9. BLISS works a little like
the Dewey, but uses
mostly letters instead
of numbers.

10. You read the shelfmarks
from left to right
and compare them
letter by letter,
alphabetically.

11. Example:
ISP BLV
IM

12. Example:
ISP BLV
IM
Both of those shelfmarks
start with an i.

13. Example:
ISP BLV
IM
So we need to look at the
second character.

14. Example:
ISP BLV
IM
M goes before S
so the book with the shelfmark
IM will be placed before the
one with ISP BLV

15. If a shelfmark includes a
number, remember that
numbers go before
letters.

16. So for example:
ISX 3ML
ISX A
The 3 first characters of the
shelfmark are the same (ISX)
so we look at the 4th.

17. So for example:
ISX 3ML
ISX A
Since numbers go before letters,
ISX 3ML will go on the shelf
before ISX A.

18. Finally, if two books
have the same
shelfmark, then they
will be ordered
alphabetically by
the surname of the
first author.

19. So this graphic novel
by Katie Green will go before
the one by Paul Karasik.

20. And if you’ve got
lots of books by
the same author
(like our extensive
collection of Freud’s
works)
then do check their
volume
number!

21. If you still can’t find
the document
you’re looking for…
then
ask a librarian!

22. Thank you for reading and
see you in the library!
TheTavistock and Portman Library