Library plan and classifications

Shelf marks

The collections of the BLE will be integrated into the BCU Central Library in 2025. To prepare for this integration, our books will be gradually changed to the new classification. This is why two classifications are currently used in parallel: the "classic" classification of the BLE, and the new Dewey Decimal Classification.

Classic classification

Our older books and other media are arranged and ordered according to our own classification system. Regardless of their place in the classification, all books can be identified by the colour of their label as belonging to one of the four following main language categories: white = German, blue = English, yellow = French, orange = Italian.

Shelf mark    Area

A                     Language textbooks  (DAF, EFL, FLE, ILS)
Aa                   Textbooks and other materials for specific classes/courses
Ab                   Workbooks, not tied to any specific class and without audio components
Ac                   Exercise materials with an audio component
Ad                  Language tests
Af                   Teaching materials and tests for languages not taught at the Language Centre [Spanish, Russian, etc.]

B                     Reference
Ba                   Grammars
Bb                   Dictionaries
Bc                   Handbooks
Bd                   Various lexicons and encyclopaedias

C                     Linguistics

D                     Didactics

E                     Periodicals and grey (i.e. not commercially published) literature
Eb                   Journals and other periodicals (BLE shelf marks)
Ec                   Grey literature
Ed                   Didactic/Teaching material

F                     Bibliographies                    
Fb                   Bibliographies

G                    Reading materials
Ga                   Reading materials (first language)
Gb                   Reading materials (second language) [also for languages not taught at the Language Centre]
Gc                   Literary texts
Gd                  Regional cultures and customs
Ge                   Information texts from periodicals and book series
Gf                   Educational games
Gg                   Literature for young readers
Gh                   Specialized texts and terminologies
Gi                    Specialized texts for law students
Gk                   Computer-assisted and distance learning
Gp                   Posters and other graphics
Gv                   Books accompanying video materials
Gw                  Texts on the economy
Gz                   Journals and magazines

J                      Periodicals (BCU shelf marks)

Dewey Decimal Classification

400 Language
410 Linguistics
420 English
430 German and other Germanic languages
440 French
450 Italian
460 Other Romance languages
470 Latin
480 Greek
490 Slavic languages
491.9-499 Other languages

Room plan