The first step is to consult the catalogues in order to find out whether the Library has the book or periodical you require and, if so, where it is kept.

• OPAC, which you can search by title, author, subject heading, shelf number, journal title, keyword etc., is available in the Searching room (a part of the Reading room on 2F).
• Also, it can be used at any computer connected to the internet, whether on and off-campus. For access to OPAC, click this URL: http://opac.ih.otaru-uc.ac.jp/imain_en_euc-jp.html
• If you are using OPAC for the first time, you may wish to read our "How to use an OPAC" before exploring further.

　Locations 

Classification and Shelving Arrangements
When you identify the book or periodical you require in the OPAC, note down the call number accurately and in full.

OUC Library's collections of over 450 thousand books and 11 thousand periodicals are organized in OUC original classification scheme. Each material has its call number, which shows what works or documents the library has on a certain subject and where they are shelved.

• The call number is normally a combination of letters and numbers comprising:
  a) several capital letters (a location code) and figures with a decimal point (a classification number)
  b) numbers or alphabets (a bookshelf number)
  c) 6 digits numbers (a registration number)

• An example of an OUC call number on a spine is:

  G 3.5 235 236705

  ←"G": a location code / "3.5": a classification number ←a bookshelf number (it can be a number for a book/an alphabet for a periodical) ←a registration number

• An example of a call number on the OPAC display is:

  Books	G 3.5||235||236705	from the left： a location code, a classification number || a bookshelf number || a registration number
  Periodicals	14.2||A||210548

• A location code is an alphabet or two that indicates the room and the location of the bookshelf. Main examples are:

  Cord	Place of bookshelf
  G	Open stacks (2nd floor)	Open-shelf (general) books for students
  GB		Pocket edition area
  GR		Donated books from "Green-hill Accountants Association" (G&GR are mixed)
  GW		Area of books written by professors of OUC
  R	Reference books area (Open stacks in the Reading Room)
  S	Stacks on the 1st floor (Closed stacks)
  T	Legislative & Statistical materials room on 3rd floor (Closed stacks)
  H	Materials for Hokkaido prefecture ： Center for Business Creation (CBC) materials room
  GS	>Sapporo Satellite, Materials corner (Open stacks)

• Other location codes indicate that they are the special materials, such as rare books, which are normally close to the public.　For access to those special collections, please contact us. Arrangements to access those materials must in all cases be made in advance.
• Classification number shows to which categories the material belongs; materials are classified by these classification schemes:
  Classification scheme of Japanese books　｜　Classification scheme of Foreign books

  Book shelf number
  The bookshelf number shows the order of materials on the bookshelves within the class; however, bound periodicals are organized titles in alphabetical sequence. Collected works, some series of books, paperbacks, etc. are given the same bookshelf numbers.
  
  Registration number
  The registration number is a running number that the Library gives a material when it is registered (the smaller the number is, the earlier the book was received).