So what do these numbers mean?

The call number for Dare to Repair is 643.7 Suss

Huh? What does it mean?  It is the vital piece of information you need to retrieve the book from the shelves.  The Library uses the Dewey Decimal Classification System. All the Library's nonfiction books are classified using this system.  In this example, 643 stands for Housing and Household Equipment.  The book Dare to Repair is classified under the sub-category .7, which stands for Renovation, improvement, remodeling.  The first four letters of the author's name is appended to the Dewey Decimal call number.  In this example, Suss stands for the the author's last name, Sussman.

Here are some examples of how books might be ordered on the shelves:

Example
1
Example 2 Example
3
Example
4
Example
5
Example
6
642.8
Bail
643.012
Boro
643.1
Hatt
643.107
Ligh
643.7
Suss
643.7
Wild
  •  Example 3 is shelved before Example 4 because .1 is less than .107
  •  Example 6 is shelved after Example 5 because Wild comes after Suss