guide
Prefixes to Shelfmarks on the Library Catalogue
Sheona Farquhar, July 2013
QGCAT005
[https://www.abdn.ac.uk/library/documents/guides/cat/qgcat00 5.pdf]
Shelfmarks for library materials are in general based on Dewey Decimal classification numbers. Many also
have one or more sets of prefixes. These prefixes are listed below, together with their meaning, and, where
appropriate, the location of the items.
Prefix
Meaning
Location
a
Atlases
Closed access store
A
Agriculture and Forestry
Closed access store
Abs
Abstracts
Closed access store
Aldroughty
Aldroughty House
Special Collections Centre
AM
Alford Mutual Improvement Society
Special Collections Centre
AUP
Aberdeen University Press
Special Collections Centre
Bies
Biesenthal
Special Collections Centre
BK
Bibliotheck of Kirkwall
Special Collections Centre
Boyndlie
Boyndlie
Special Collections Centre
Brown-Lindsay
Brown-Lindsay
Special Collections Centre
C, Cm, Cmd,
Cmnd, Cd
Command papers
Taylor Library
Cairngorm Club
Cairngorm Club
Special Collections Centre
CH
Chapman
Special Collections Centre
Christ’s College
Christ’s College
Special Collections Centre
Coll
Collected musical works
The Sir Duncan Rice Library, Floor 4
Derm
Dermatology Class Library
Foresterhill
Disc
Compact disc
The Sir Duncan Rice Library,
Floor 1 (Music Resource Room)
DL
Diocesan Library
Special Collections Centre
DVD
DVD
The Sir Duncan Rice Library,
Floor 1 (Heavy Demand Area)
The University of Aberdeen is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013683
e Book
Electronic book
e Per
Electronic journal
EC, EDC
European Documentation Centre
material
Taylor Library
EI
Elphinstone Institute material
Elphinstone Institute, MacRobert Building
EI B
Elphinstone Institute Buchan Library
Elphinstone Institute, MacRobert Building
f
Folio (oversize item)
F
Medical Library material
Medical Library
Prefix is used on books, but not in
catalogue
ff
Double folio
ffp
Double folio pamphlet
FHD
Foresterhill Heavy Demand
Medical Library
FL
Fixed Location
Special Collections Centre
Full S
Full score
The Sir Duncan Rice Library, Floor 4
Geddes
Geddes
Special Collections Centre
GY
Gregory
Special Collections Centre
HD
Heavy Demand
The Sir Duncan Rice Library,
Floor 1 (Heavy Demand)
Hend inst, Hend
voc
J M Henderson
Special Collections Centre
Herald
Herald pamphlets
Special Collections Centre
HN
Henderson of Caskieben
Special Collections Centre
Inc
Incunabula
Special Collections Centre
J
Juvenile
Special Collections Centre
KC
King’s College stack material
Closed access store
KCx
Medical Collection
Special Collections Centre
KE
Keith
Special Collections Centre
King
King pamphlets
Special Collections Centre
L
Local
Special Collections Centre
Lambda
Local
Special Collections Centre
2
Law
Law material
Taylor Library
Prefix is used on books, but not in
catalogue
Lib R
Library Rarities (Librarian’s Room)
Special Collections Centre
LMS
London Missionary Society,
Edinburgh Branch Library
Special Collections Centre
m
Map
The Sir Duncan Rice Library, Floor 1
M
Microform
MacBean
MacBean
Special Collections Centre
MH
Meldrum House
Special Collections Centre
Microform
Microform
The Sir Duncan Rice Library, Floor 1
Min S
Miniature score
The Sir Duncan Rice Library, Floor 4
MM
Marischal Museum books
Marischal Museum
MN
Melvin
Special Collections Centre
MS
Manuscript
Special Collections Centre
Mus
Music score
The Sir Duncan Rice Library, Floor 4
Nicoll
Nicoll
Special Collections Centre
OD
O’Dell
Special Collections Centre
OECD
Organisation for Economic
Cooperation & Development material
Taylor Library
OP
Official Publication
Taylor Library
p
Pamphlet
Closed access store
p Lambda
Local pamphlets
Special Collections Centre
Per
Periodical
Phillips
Phillips
Special Collections Centre
pHJ
Hilary Jenkinson
(pamphlet collection)
Special Collections Centre
pi
Pi i.e.  collection
Special Collections Centre
PP
Parliamentary paper
Taylor Library
R
Robinson collection
Special Collections Centre
Ref
Reference material
Rep
Law report
Taylor Library
3
S
Special Collections Centre books
Special Collections Centre
SB
Special Books
Special Collections Centre
SBL
Special Books Local
Special Collections Centre
Sc
History & Philosophy of Science
material
The Sir Duncan Rice Library, Floor 5
SFA
Society of Friends Aberdeen Meeting
Special Collections Centre
SFK
Society of Friends, Kinmuck Meeting
Special Collections Centre
SH Mus
Stationers’ Hall Music
Special Collections Centre
Sim
Simpson
Special Collections Centre
SOP
Scottish Official Publication
Taylor Library
SP
Scottish Parliament
Taylor Library
STA
Statutes
Taylor Library
TB
Thomson of Banchory
Special Collections Centre
Th
Thesis
Closed access store
Th Ref
Theses (reference)
Special Collections Centre
Thomson
Thomson pamphlets
Special Collections Centre
TL
Theological Library
Special Collections Centre
TR
Taylor Psalmody
Special Collections Centre
Vid
Videotape
VL
(Minor) Victorian literature
Special Collections Centre
Voc S
Vocal score
The Sir Duncan Rice Library, Floor 4
VP
(Minor) Victorian poetry
Special Collections Centre
Watt
Watt
Special Collections Centre
WN
Wilson
Special Collections Centre
WS
Walter Scott
Special Collections Centre
x
Reserve material
Prefix is used on books, but not in
catalogue
4