Q. What is a classmark/shelfmark?

A classmark or shelfmark allows a user to locate a particular book in a library. They also group together books of a particular subject.

The classmark/shelfmark is a number that is followed by 3 letters, representing the start of either the author's name or the book title.  An X after the classmark/shelfmark and letters indicates that the book is larger than normal and shelved in a separate section for oversize books.

For example the classmark/shelfmark for Africa in crisis: the causes, the cures of environmental bankruptcy by Lloyd Timberlake is 338.196/TIM

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