Most of the government materials found in the York University Libraries are classified and arranged by the York University government call number system. Government call numbers are included in the Library Catalogue along with location codes that indicate where you will find the materials in the library system (see below). Many new government publications are classified using the Library of Congress Classification System and shelved alongside existing Scott Library and Frost Library collections.

Where You Will Find Government Call Numbers

(and the corresponding location codes in the Library Catalogue)

• SCOTT-GOV
  SC-GV-OVSZ

  3rd Floor, Scott Library

  The bulk of the collection with government call numbers is located on the third floor of the Scott Library. This collection includes both periodicals and circulating materials. Over-sized materials (SC-GV-OVSZ) are located at the end of the collection.

• SC-GOV-REF

  2nd Floor, Scott Library

  The government reference collection includes government finding aids, parliamentary publications and governance documents from Toronto, the province of Ontario, Canada, the United States and the United Nations. Most of the print Statistics Canada collection is also located in this area.

• SCOTT-MICR

  Room 118, First Floor, Scott Library

  The government microtext collection includes materials from the United Nations, the United States, and Canada.

• FR-GOV-DOC
  FR-GD-OVSZ
  FR-GD-MICR

  1st Floor, Frost Library

  Both print and microtext collections with government call numbers are maintained on the main level of the Frost Library on the Glendon Campus.

• HNES-STOR

  Part of the government collection is held in storage outside the Scott Library. This location will be identified in the library catalogue as HNES-STOR. These items can be requested by using the Request from Storage link in the library catalogue record.

How to Read a Government Call Number

The government call numbers are based on a system of provenance, which means that materials published or issued by a particular country or organization sit together on the shelves. These groupings are further broken down by issuing bodies within the main country or organization (e.g., Statistics Canada within the country of Canada). Within each country or organization, materials are arranged first by issuing body and type of material, then by title, then by year or a unique numbering system assigned by the issuing body (e.g., working paper number, command paper number).

Example 1:

CAN1 CS8.5 32-226

Interpretation:

• CAN – identifies the country (Canada)
• CAN 1 – shows that this item was issued by a federal department (or its equivalent)
• CS8 – identifies the department (Statistics Canada)
• CS8. 5 -indicates the type of material (statistical)
• 32-226 – shows the unique number assigned by the issuing body (Statistics Canada catalogue number 32-226)

Example 2: CAN6 ONT2 P2.1 ST27 2001

Interpretation:

• CAN – identifies the country (Canada)
• CAN 6 – shows that this item was produced by a provincial government
• ONT – identifies the province (Ontario)
• ONT 2 – shows that this is legislative material
• P2 – identifies the issuing body (legislative)
• P2. 1 -indicates the type of material (annual publication)
• ST27 – determined by the title (Statutes of Ontario)
• 2001 – shows year of issue or publication

York University Government Call Number Shelving Order

Detailed Numerical Interpretation

Common Country/Organization Codes