UCT Libraries suffered a devastating fire on Sunday 18 April 2021. We are still assessing the damage and loss.
Please note that the library holdings for Special Collections (African Studies Library, Government Publications, Rare Books and Manuscripts) may no longer be accurate.

Location Symbols are the letters preceding the numbers on Library materials’ Shelf Numbers. These symbols stand for specific Branch Libraries, Collections, and sometimes the format of the material as well.

Symbol Collection Location
B RARE BOOK COLLECTION Rare Books & Special Collections
BA AFRICAN STUDIES African Studies
BAA AFRICAN STUDIES ​AFRICANA African Studies
BAAP AFRICANA PAMPHLET COLLECTION African Studies
BAL BALLOT COLLECTION Rare Books & Special Collections
BAO AFRICAN STUDIES OUTSIZE BOOKS African Studies
BAP AFRICAN STUDIES PAMPHLET COLLECTION African Studies
BBL BLEEK COLLECTION Rare Books & Special Collections
BBZCD SPECIAL COLLECTIONS ELECTRONIC FORMAT Rare Books & Special Collections
BC MANUSCRIPTS Manuscripts & Archives
BCZA MANUSCRIPTS MICROFILM Manuscripts & Archives
BCZB MANUSCRIPTS MICROFICHE Manuscripts & Archives
BCZCD MANUSCRIPTS ELECTRONIC FORMAT Manuscripts & Archives
BCZD MANUSCRIPTS 4 x 5 NEGATIVES Manuscripts & Archives
BCZH MANUSCRIPTS SLIDES Manuscripts & Archives
BCZTC MANUSCRIPTS TAPE CASSETTES Manuscripts & Archives
BCZVT MANUSCRIPTS VIDEOTAPE Manuscripts & Archives
BDB BOWLE-EVANS COLLECTION Rare Books & Special Collections
BDC MOSSOP CHINESE COLLECTION Rare Books & Special Collections
BDD JOHN DAVIDSON PHRENOLOGICAL COLLECTION Rare Books & Special Collections
BDE SA SPELAEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION COLLECTION Rare Books & Special Collections
BDG CAMERON-SWAN SCOTTISH COLLECTION Rare Books & Special Collections
BDJ MACLEAN COLLECTION Rare Books & Special Collections
BDK KIPLING COLLECTION Rare Books & Special Collections
BDM MCGREGOR C20TH POETRY COLLECTION Rare Books & Special Collections
BDR RARE BOOKS & SPECIAL COLLECTIONS REFERENCE Rare Books & Special Collections
BDW WILLIS NAVAL & AERONAUTICAL COLLECTION Rare Books & Special Collections
BJ HISTORICAL CHILDREN’S LITERATURE COLLECTION Rare Books & Special Collections
BJA SOUTH AFRICAN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE COLLECTION Rare Books & Special Collections
BM AFRICAN STUDIES MAPS African Studies
BR AFRICAN STUDIES REFERENCE African Studies
BRB AFRICAN STUDIES BIBLIOGRAPHIES African Studies
BRP AFRICAN STUDIES REFERENCE PAMPHLETS African Studies
BSF SPECULATIVE FICTION Chancellor Oppenheimer Library, Research Wing, Level 6
BU UCT STAFF PUBLICATIONS Manuscripts & Archives
BUT UCT ARCHIVAL THESIS Off-campus Store
BUZB UCT THESES ON MICROFICHE African Studies
BUZD MANUSCRIPTS UCT PUBLICATIONS NEGEGATIVES (STRIPS) Manuscripts & Archives
BUZE MANUSCRIPTS UCT PUBLICATIONS NEGEGATIVES (ROLLS) Manuscripts & Archives
BUZVT UCT STAFF PUBLICATION (VIDEO) Manuscripts & Archives
BZA AFRICAN STUDIES MICROFILM African Studies Library
BZB AFRICAN STUDIES MICROFICHE African Studies Library
BZCD AFRICAN STUDIES ELECTRONIC FORMAT African Studies
BZD MANUSCRIPTS NEGATIVES (STRIPS) African Studies
BZDV AFRICAN STUDIES DVD African Studies
BZE MANUSCRIPTS NEGATIVES (ROLL) Manuscripts & Archives
BZG MANUSCRIPTS 16 MM. FILMS Manuscripts & Archives
BZH AFRICAN STUDIES SLIDES African Studies
BZM AFRICAN STUDIES MAPS African Studies
BZN AFRICAN STUDIES COMPUTER SOFTWARE African Studies
BZTC AFRICAN STUDIES TAPE CASSETTE African Studies
BZVT AFRICAN STUDIES VIDEOTAPE African Studies
BZW AFRICAN STUDIES POSTERS African Studies
BZX AFRICAN STUDIES GRAMMOPHONE RECORD African Studies
BZZ AFRICAN STUDIES KIT African Studies
CC CRAWFORD COLLECTION Chancellor Oppenheimer Library Basement
CR REFERENCE Main Level, Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
CRZCD COMMERCE ELECTRONIC FORMATS Loans Desk, Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
CRZN COMMERCE COMPUTER SOFTWARE Loans Desk, Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
DA BUILT ENVIRONMENT LIBRARY Built Environment Library
DAB BUILT ENVIRONMENT RARE BOOKS Built Environment Library
DAPAM ARCHITECTURE/BUILDING PAMPHLETS Built Environment Library
DAR ARCHITECTURE LIBRARY REFERENCE Built Environment Library
DART BUILT ENVIRONMENT TECHNICAL REF. MATERIAL Built Environment Library
DAT BUILT ENVIRONMENT THESES Built Environment Library
DAZA BUILT ENVIRONMENT MICROFILM Built Environment Library
DAZB BUILT ENVIRONMENT MICROFICHE Built Environment Library
DAZCD BUILT ENVIRONMENT ELECTRONIC FORMAT Built Environment Library
DAZD BUILT ENVIRONMENT 4 X 5 NEGATIVES Built Environment Library
DAZH BUILT ENVIRONMENT SLIDES Built Environment Library
DAZM ARCHITECTURE MAPS Built Environment Library
DAZN BUILT ENVIRONMENT COMPUTER SOFTWARE Built Environment Library
DAZTC BUILT ENVIRONMENT TAPE CASSETTE Built Environment Library
DAZVT BUILT ENVIRONMENT VIDEOTAPE Built Environment Library
DAZZ BUILT ENVIRONMENT KITS Built Environment Library
DH LAW LIBRARY Law Library
DHG GILFILLAN COLLECTION Law Library
DHR LAW REFERENCE Law Library
DHT LAW THESES Law Library
DHZ VAN ZYL COLLECTION Law Library
DHZCD LAW ELECTRONIC FORMAT Law Library
DS Obsolete symbol. (Ignore symbol and just use class number to locate material.) Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
DSL SCI-TECH LEISURE READING Chancellor Oppenheimer Library, Undergraduate Wing, Upper Level
DSR REFERENCE Main Level, Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
DST SCIENCE & ENGINEERING THESIS Chancellor Oppenheimer Library, Research Wing, Upper Level
DSRZCD SCIENCE & ENGINEERING: ELECTRONIC FORMATS Loans Desk
DSZA SCIENCE & ENGINEERING MICROFILM Upper Level North, Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
DSZB SCIENCE & ENGINEERING MICROFICHE Upper Level North, Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
DSZH SCIENCE & ENGINEERING SLIDES Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
DSZM SCIENCE & ENGINEERING POSTERS Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
DSZN SCIENCE & ENGINEERING COMPUTER SOFTWARE Loans Desk
DSZX SCIENCE & ENGINEERING GRAMAPHONE RECORD Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
DSZZ SCIENCE & ENGINEERING KIT Upper Level North, Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
EA CAPE TOWN DIOCESAN LIBRARY Rare Books & Special Collections
EJ JEWISH STUDIES Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
EJR JEWISH STUDIES REFERENCE Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
EJZA JEWISH STUDIES MICROFILM Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
EJZB JEWISH STUDIES MICROFICHE Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
EJZCD JEWISH STUDIES ELECTRONIC FORMAT Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
EJZTC JEWISH STUDIES TAPE CASETTES Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
G GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS Government Publications Dept.
GR GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS REFERENCE Government Publications Dept.
GZA GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS MICROFILM Government Publications Dept.
GZB GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS MICROFICHE Government Publications Dept.
GZCD GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS ELECTRONIC FORMATS Government Publications Dept.
GZM GOVERNMENT PUBS MAPS Government Publications Dept.
GZN GOVERNMENT PUBS COMPUTER SOFTWARE Government Publications Dept.
GZVT GOVERNMENT PUBS VIDEOTAPE Government Publications Dept.
GZW GOVERNMENT PUBS POSTERS Government Publications Dept.
H HIDDINGH HALL LIBRARY Hiddingh Hall Library
HL HIDDINGH HALL LIBRARY GLASS CASE (DONATION) Hiddingh Hall Library
HO HIDDINGH HALL OUTSIZE BOOKS Hiddingh Hall Library
HR HIDDINGH HALL REFERENCE Hiddingh Hall Library
HSA HIDDINGH HALL AFRICANA Hiddingh Hall Library
HT HIDDINGH HALL THESES Hiddingh Hall Library
HZA HIDDINGH HALL MICROFILM Hiddingh Hall Library
HZB HIDDINGH HALL MICROFICHE Hiddingh Hall Library
HZCD HHL ELECTRONIC FORMAT Hiddingh Hall Library
HZD HIDDINGH HALL 4 x 5 NEGATIVES Hiddingh Hall Library
HZDV HIDDINGH DIGITAL VIDEO DISK (DVD) Hiddingh Hall Library
HZTC HIDDINGH TAPE CASSETTE Hiddingh Hall Library
HZVT HIDDINGH HALL VIDEOTAPE Hiddingh Hall Library
HZX HIDDINGH HALL GRAMOPHONE RECORDS Hiddingh Hall Library
HZZ HIDDINGH HALL KITS Hiddingh Hall Library
K BOLUS HERBARIUM LIBRARY Bolus Herbarium Library
KR BOLUS HERBARIUM LIBRARY REFERENCE Bolus Herbarium Library
KRB BOLUS HERBARIUM LIBRARY RARE BOOK ROOM Bolus Herbarium Library
KZA BOLUS HERBARIUM LIBRARY MICROFILM Bolus Herbarium Library
KZB BOLUS HERBARIUM LIBRARY MICROFICHE Bolus Herbarium Library
KZCD BOLUS HERBARIUM LIBRARY ELECTRONIC FORMAT Bolus Herbarium Library
L Obsolete symbol. Ignore symbol and just use class number to locate material. Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
LOEB LOEB COLLECTION. NOT FOR LOAN Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
M HEALTH SCIENCES LIBRARY Health Sciences Library
MH HEALTH SCIENCES HISTORY COLLECTION Health Sciences Library
MHA HEALTH SCIENCES AFRICANA COLLECTION Health Sciences Library
MHB HEALTH SCIENCES RARE BOOK COLLECTION Health Sciences Library
MHPAM HEALTH SCIENCES HISTORY COLLECTION PAMPHLETS Health Sciences Library
MPAM HEALTH SCIENCES PAMPHLETS Health Sciences Library
MR HEALTH SCIENCES REFERENCE Health Sciences Library
MSLC HEALTH SCIENCES: SHORT LOAN Health Sciences Library
MT HEALTH SCIENCES THESES Health Sciences Library
MU HEALTH SCIENCES STAFF PUBLICATIONS Health Sciences Library
MX INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH Institute of Child Health Library
MXR INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH REFERENCE COLLECTION Institute of Child Health Library
MXZB INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH MICROFICHE Institute of Child Health Library
MXZCD INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH ELECTRONIC FORMATS Institute of Child Health Library
MXZH INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH SLIDES Institute of Child Health Library
MXZVT INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH VIDEOTAPES Institute of Child Health Library
MXZZ INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH KITS Institute of Child Health Library
MZB HEALTH SCIENCES MICROFICHE Health Sciences Library
MZCD HEALTH SCIENCES ELECTRONIC FORMATS Health Sciences Library
MZH HEALTH SCIENCES SLIDES Health Sciences Library
MZN HEALTH SCIENCES COMPUTER SOFTWARE Health Sciences Library
MZTC HEALTH SCIENCES TAPE CASSETTE Health Sciences Library
MZVT HEALTH SCIENCES VIDEOTAPES Health Sciences Library
MZZ HEALTH SCIENCES KITS Health Sciences Library
OS CHANCELLOR OPPENHEIMER LIBRARY Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
R REFERENCE Main Level, Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
RK KNOWLEDGE COMMONS Knowledge Commons
RKZCD KNOWLEDGE COMMONS ELECTRONIC FORMATS Knowledge Commons
RP HUMANITIES PAMPHLETS Short Loans Centre, Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
RR RECREATIONAL READING Chancellor Oppenheimer Library (Upper Terrace)
RZA HUMANITIES MICROFILM Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
RZB HUMANITIES MICROFICHE Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
RZCD ELECTRONIC FORMATS Loans Desk, Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
RZDV DIGITAL VIDEO DISC (DVD) Loans Desk, Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
RZH HUMANITIES SLIDES Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
RZM HUMANITIES MAPS Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
RZN HUMANITIES COMPUTER SOFTWARE Loans Desk, Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
RZTC HUMANITIES TAPE CASETTES Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
RZVT VIDEOTAPE Short Loans Centre, Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
RZZ HUMANITIES KITS Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
SLC SHORT LOANS CENTRE Short Loans Centre, Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
SM SMUTS MEMORIAL COLLECTION Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
SMR SMUTS MEMORIAL REFERENCE COLLECTION Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
SMZCD SMUTS MEMORIAL ELECTRONIC FORMAT Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
T MUSIC LIBRARY Music Library
TA MUSIC BOOKS SOUTH AFRICAN COLLECTION Music Library
TB MUSIC BOOKS RARE OR VALUABLE Music Library
TJ MUSIC JAZZ BOOKS Music Library
TP MUSIC SCORES Music Library
TPA MUSIC SCORES SOUTH AFRICAN COLLECTION Music Library
TPB MUSIC
SCORES RARE OR VALUABLE
Music Library
TPJ MUSIC SCORES JAZZ Music Library
TPJS MUSIC SCORES JAZZ STORE Music Library
TPR MUSIC REFERENCE SCORES Music Library
TPS MUSIC SCORES STORE Music Library
TPW MUSIC SCORES FOR TEACHING Music Library
TPZ MUSIC SCORES ELECTRONIC FORM Music Library
TR MUSIC REFERENCE BOOKS Music Library
TT MUSIC THESES Music Library
TW BOOKS ON MUSIC TEACHING Music Library
TZA MUSIC MICROFILMS Music Library
TZCD MUSIC COMPACT DISC Music Library
TZCRM MUSIC BOOKS ELECTRONIC FORMATS Music Library
TZDV MUSIC DIGITAL VIDEO DISK (DVD) Music Library
TZT MUSIC REEL-TO-REEL AUDIOTAPES Music Library
TZTC MUSIC TAPE CASSETTES Music Library
TZVT MUSIC VIDEOTAPE Music Library
TZX MUSIC GRAMOPHONE RECORDS Music Library
UT UCT THESIS Chancellor Oppenheimer Library Research Wing, Upper Level
WH Obsolete symbol. (Ignore symbol and just use class number to locate material.) Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
WHJ CLASSROOM COLLECTION Chancellor Oppenheimer Library Research Wing, Level 6
WHT SCHOOL TEXT BOOKS Chancellor Oppenheimer Library Research Wing, Level 6
WHTH UCT THESIS Chancellor Oppenheimer Library Research Wing, Upper Level
WHU UNESCO EDUCATION COLLECTION Chancellor Oppenheimer Library
ZAQ ACQUISITIONS PROFESSIONAL WORKS (NOT FOR LOAN) Acquisitions Department
ZC CATALOGUING PROFESSIONAL WORKS (NOT FOR LOAN) Bibliographic Access Department
ZCZCD CATALOGUING PROFESSIONAL WORKS ELECTRONIC FORMATS Bibliographic Access Department
ZCZVT CATALOGUING PROFESSIONAL WORKS VIDEO (NOT FOR LOAN) Bibliographic Access Department
ZD DIRECTOR’S OFFICE (NOT FOR LOAN) Director’s Office
ZE COMPUTERISATION PROFESSIONAL WORKS (NOT FOR LOAN) Library IT Department
ZGP GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS PROFESSIONAL WORKS (NOT FOR LOAN) Government Publications Department
ZM MANUSCRIPTS & ARCHIVES PROFESSIONAL WORKS (NOT FOR LOAN) Manuscripts & Archives
ZMD HEALTH SCIENCES LIBRARY PROFESSIONAL WORKS (NOT FOR LOAN) Health Sciences Library
ZMZVT MANUSCRIPTS & ARCHIVES PROFESSIONAL WORKS VIDEO (NOT FOR LOAN) Manuscripts & Archives
ZR RESTORATION PROFESSIONAL WORKS (NOT FOR LOAN) Restoration Unit