Laying books on the shelves in proper order is called

• A. Cataloging
• B. Shelving
• C. Circulation control
• D. Sorting

Answer: (B)

Laying books on the shelves in the correct sequence is shelving. It’s the hands-on task of placing each item on its appropriate spot on the shelves so the collection stays organized and easy to browse, usually guided by the item’s call number or classification. Cataloging, by contrast, is about creating the catalog record and assigning access points; sorting might refer to an initial arrangement, but it doesn’t formalize the on-shelf placement; circulation control deals with lending, return, and tracking, not where items sit. So shelving is the activity that directly describes putting books in their proper order on the shelves.