William Shakespeare, writer of some of the most beloved and admired works in Western literature, holds an important place in cultures across the globe—especially in the English-speaking corners of the world. Nicknamed “The Bard,” he is responsible for transforming the English language, for deepening our experience of characters in literature and drama, and for revolutionizing theater—not to mention his clear influence on nearly every writer in the English language to come after him. Great writers like Dickens, Blake, Melville, and Faulkner credit Shakespeare as the pinnacle of literature, and thus their inspiration for writing. His plays, known for their powerful stories and interesting and sympathetic characters, are constantly being performed, studied, and written about.

Shakespeare is so important that he is the only author to have his own Dewey Decimal number! The works of Shakespeare and their criticism all live under call number 822.33. Convenient, no? Well take a peek into the Shakespeare section of your local stacks, and you might become more than a little intimidated by what you find there. With countless editions of the same play, and even more works written about that same play, it’s no wonder Shakespeare requires a number all to himself. This handy guide will de-mystify Shakespeare’s home in your library, and help you find the right book on the Bard for you.

Here is a breakdown of how Shakespeare’s works are organized at NYPL’s branches, and many other public libraries:

• 822.33 will be followed by a letter, which distinguishes a topic of Shakespearean scholarship or a specific work by the playwright.
• Letters A - N comprise of textual and critical scholarship, biographies, anthologies and collections, quotations and adaptations, and authorship controversies.
• O - Z contain his works, divided into four sections: Comedies, Tragedies, Histories, and Poems. Each letter from O - Z will be followed by a number 1-9. The odd number signifies the work itself, while the even number is for scholarship on that work. For example, 822.33-S 7 is the play Hamlet, while 822.33-S 8 are books about Hamlet—its performance, structure, reputation, influence, etc.
• O - R contain the Comedies, S - V are Tragedies, W - X are Histories, and Y is for Poems. There is even a small call number, 822.33 Z, which is reserved for works proposed to be by Shakespeare but with ‘spurious,’ or doubtful authorship.

Once you’ve located the play or poem you want, what next? Shakespeare’s works have been published countless times by dozens of different publishers throughout the ages. You might find 8 very different editions of Hamlet when you check the shelf. How do you know which one suits your specific needs? If you are an actor preparing to audition for the title role, you don’t necessarily want the same book filled with footnotes that the serious student of literature is checking out.

There are several common, contemporary editions of Shakespeare’s individual works that you are likely to see. Here is a list of them, and to what audience they cater:

Arden Shakespeare
The Arden Shakespeare series is considered by many to be the gold standard for serious students of Shakespeare. Published by Bloomsbury and named for the setting of As You Like It, this series is written with modern spelling, and each play or poem comes accompanied by a lengthy and informative introduction, and full commentary throughout the play. Recommended for advanced students in high school, college, and beyond.

The Folger Shakespeare Library
This series is also geared toward students. Written with modern spelling and pronunciation, the Folger Shakespeare editions also contain introductory material and commentary. The difference between the Folger edition and the Arden, is that with the Folger, readers also have access to scene summaries and explanatory notes, alongside the original text. These editions are recommended for beginning and intermediate students of Shakespeare, who might need a little extra help understanding plot and characterization in the plays.

Pelican Shakespeare
Published by Penguin group, the Pelican Shakespeare editions are a favorite of many actors--the legendary Sir Patrick Stewart himself recommends this series for performers (or aspiring performers!) of Shakespeare’s plays. Like the Arden and Folger versions, the Pelican is edited for modern spelling and contains brief notes on the text, as well as quick and easy explanations of words and phrases that might be foreign to the modern reader right beside the text.

Norton Shakespeare
Savvy students of literature already know and trust Norton as one of the most reliable and forward thinking publishers of critical editions of classic texts. Norton’s Shakespeare editions live up to the publisher’s reputation: clear, concise, and thoughtful, this series uses the Oxford text, and builds upon it by adding extra introductory material, essential critical essays on the work at hand, and helpful notes in the margins beside the text. Good for students of all levels, who want as much information as possible in one portable volume.

Dover Thrift Editions
Dover Thrift is known for its mass-market, no-frills editions of the classics. Their Shakespeare editions are no exception. Thin, portable, and simple, Dover’s editions are written with modern spelling and pronunciation, and feature no introductory material, no footnotes or endnotes, and no critical commentary. Ideal for the actor seeking to visit the Bard’s work without interference from history or criticism.

Signet Classic Shakespeare
Like Dover, Signet offers small, mass-market versions of Shakespeare’s works. These pocket-size editions feature some notes and brief introductions, but only a minimum amount—just enough to answer basic questions about context, history, and language.

No Fear Shakespeare
No Fear Shakespeare is a series by Sparknotes, which features easy-to-read introductory material, including historical and critical contexts, along with a helpful, side-by-side modern translation of the text. Recommended for younger students and beginners, this series enables readers to fully grasp important plot points, and encourages textual analysis by providing thought-provoking character and plot exposition. Available in print at your local library, and for free online.

First Folio
Many publishers will offer what’s called a “First Folio” edition of each of Shakespeare’s plays. First Folio refers to the publication of 36 of Shakespeare’s plays in one volume in 1623, generally considered to be the most reliable and authentic versions of the works. Today, when you see that an edition is marked “First Folio,” it means that the text is not edited for modern spelling and punctuation, but rather features the original Elizabethan English as it appears in the First Folio. First Folio editions, though less accessible to the average contemporary reader, are highly desirable to the actor or scholar seeking any acting cues or other important clues about the play hidden in Shakespeare’s unaltered language.

If you’re interested in further reading about Shakespeare and his works, check out the Modern Library’s list of the 100 best books on Shakespeare, a handy compendium of important scholarship and popular non-fiction on the Bard organized by topic and approach. You also can gain access to some really great databases on Shakespeare with your NYPL library card. For example, the World Shakespeare Bibliography Online and the Shakespeare Editions and Adaptations are both great resources for those looking for more annotated material or a deeper comparative look at Shakespeare through the ages.