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Basic Searching - Subject

You can also search the Catalog by using Library of Congress subject headings.
BUT, you MUST use the proper Library of Congress subject headings.

Only if they are recognized by the Library of Congress as subject headings, and if we have items with those subject headings, will you receive positive results.

Some sample subject headings:

  • Rap (Music)--Fiction
  • People with visual disabilities--India--Congresses
  • Architecture--Michigan--Almont--19th century.
  • Porcelain boxes--France--History
  • Opera--Production and direction

If you are just beginning your research, it may be best to begin with a "keyword(s)" search as mentioned earlier in this module.

However, do not let this discourage you from doing subject searches. When used properly, they can be undeniably helpful in locating exactly what you need.

There are two ways you can do subject searches:

FIRST WAY

  • Begin with a Keyword search, enter your keyword search terms, and view the list of results.
    Click on a title you think fits into what you are looking for, and view its full record, then scroll down the page until you get to Subjects, general:.
  • These are subject headings that were assigned to that particular book by the library and they best represent the subject matter of the material.
  • All subject headings are hyperlinked so you can click on them to see if the library has more books on that particular subject.

    See Figure 22 for details.

List of subject headings for this book by Neupert
Figure 22

SECOND WAY to do a subject search

You can also look through the Library of Congress Subject Headings (2001), a five volume set of large red books that lists subject headings catalogers at the Library of Congress have used since 1898. (See Figure 23) This set is located near the Reference Desk.

The Library of Congress Subject Headings
Figure 23

Above image from the University of Arizona's RIO (Research Instruction Online). http://www.library.arizona.edu/rio/sabio-6.html

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