What is the term for the number assigned to each book or item when cataloged?

• A. Call Number
• B. Barcode
• C. Accession
• D. ISBN

Answer: (C)

The term refers to the unique identifier assigned to a library item when it is added to the collection. This accession number is specific to that individual copy and is used by librarians to track the item in the catalog and throughout its lifecycle in the library. It stays with the item even if other identifiers change. This is different from a barcode, which is the machine-readable tag used at check-out and shelf scanning; it helps with quick circulation but isn't the primary catalog reference. The ISBN is a standardized number that identifies the title edition across publishers, not a unique copy; two copies of the same edition share the same ISBN. The call number is the classification and location code used to shelve and find the item, not a unique copy identifier.