Archdiocesan Library
FACTS and QUESTIONS 

1. What is the Catholic Pastoral Center Library?

The Catholic Pastoral Center Library is a lending library for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and participants in the various programs sponsored by the Catholic Church in western Oklahoma.. The library has books, videos (VHS and DVD), and audio tapes to lend. It has magazines and reference books to read in the library. The CPC Library is located on the second floor, east wing, of the Catholic pastoral Center at 7501 Northwest Expressway.

2. How can I find a book or video in the library catalog?

You may search for a book by Keyword, Title, Author, or Subject.  A request made using the Keyword button will find most items in the other three categories.  If you know the title, click on the title button and then type in the name of the book. If you want to read books by a favorite author use the Author search button and type in the last name first:

Montague, George.

Searching by subject is a little trickier because subject headings contain specific words.

To search for books about the Bible, type in Bible. If you want to read about the Old Testament, use Bible. O.T. For New Testament use Bible. N.T.. For books on spirituality use the search term Spiritual life. For books on theology, use Catholic Church—Doctrines. For information on the Catholic Church (sometimes called Apologetics) use Catholic Church—Doctrinal and controversial works.

3. What is the Dewey Decimal System?

The Dewey Decimal System is a method for organizing books so that they can be found easily. It is a numerical system. Each subject area is given a number from 0-999..

000 Generalities

100 Philosophy and related disciplines

200 Religion

300 The Social Sciences

400 Language

500 Pure Science

600 Technology (Applied Science)

700 The Arts

800 Literature and rhetoric

900 General geography, history, etc,

Each of these classes is further divided, for example:

200 Religion in general

210 Natural religion

220 Bible

230 Christian doctrinal theology

240 Christian Morality and spiritual life

250 Christian Pastoral and Parochial theology

260 Christian social and ecclesiastical theology

270 Church history

280 Christian denominations and sects

290 Other religions

These classes can be divided again by ten into increasingly specific categories. The purpose of this is to organize the books so that they can be located on the shelves. When you e-mail the library the librarian will use the Call Number—a Dewey Decimal Number and three letters of the author’s name placed on each book to find the book in the library.  A call number looks like this: 220.6 

                                                 BUR   

Sometimes there will be letters in front of the Dewy Number. For exmple:

REF                             or                     VI                                or                     AC

220.3                                                   922.22                                                 248.4

YOU                                                    HIL                                                      GRO

These refer to either the kind of material the title is or to the place where it is kept.

AC     Audiocassette tape

AK     Audio Kit (A set of several related audiocassettes)

CD     Compact disc

DVD  Digital Video Disc

PAM  Pamphlet

REF   Reference

VI      Video

FIC      These are videos that are fictional stories. The fiction books are listed under the 800s in literature.

SP      Indicates books or videos in Spanish.

4. How can I know what the book or video is about?

Each video has a brief description. The books have Subject headings—one or two word indications of what topics are covered in the book.

5. What if I want videos for a certain age-group?

On the search line type in

a video for use with preschool

a video for use with primary

a video for use with intermediate

a video for use with middle school

a video for use with high school

                        or  a video for use with adults

Hit the Enter key. The list of videos suitable for that age group will come up. Note that you can organize your list according to Call Number, Title or Author.. Choose Call Number. Refer to the list of Dewey Decimal Classes in Question 2.. This list will give you an idea of what the topic is. For example, if you want a video about the Church to use with children, go down the list of videos until you come to those with Dewey Decimal Class numbers in the 260s.

6. How do I check out materials from the CPC Library?

Call the library at 405.721-5651 and ask for extension 154. After 4:30 (on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and on Saturday before 1:30, call 721-1910. The librarian can mail an application form to you. Once I receive it you can check out videos. For more information on library hours and check-out procedures see Circulation Procedures.

Can I visit the Library?

YES! Please come in and see what the library has to offer—it is your library, supported by your donations to the Archdiocesan Development Fund. When you come, remember that the front door of the Catholic Pastoral Center is locked at 4:30 every day. Use the new entrance on the north side of the building next to the Convention Center.