Ever wonder how books are shelved?
In this library we use The Library of Congress Classification System to organize books on the shelves. The LC SYSTEM organizes material in libraries according to twenty-one branches of knowledge called classes. The system uses letters to represent the twenty-one broad branches of knowledge. The letters I, O, W, X AND Y are not used.
The twenty-one classes are:
A – GENERAL WORKS
B – PHILOSOPHY, PSYCHOLOGY, RELIGION
C – AUXILIARY SCIENCES OF HISTORY
D – HISTORY: GENERAL & OUTSIDE THE AMERICAS
E – HISTORY: UNITED STATES
F – HISTORY: UNITED STATES LOCAL & AMERICAS
G – GEOGRAPHY, ANTHROPOLOGY, RECREATION
H – SOCIAL SCIENCE
J – POLITICAL SCIENCE
K – LAW
L – EDUCATION
M – MUSIC & BOOKS ON MUSIC
N – FINE ARTS
P – LANGUAGE & LITERATURE
Q – SCIENCE
R – MEDICINE
S – AGRICULTURE
T – TECHNOLOGY
U – MILITARY SCIENCE
V – NAVAL SCIENCE
Z – BIBLIOGRAPHY, LIBRARY SCIENCE & INFORMATION RESOURCES
These twenty-one broad subject areas are further divided into more specific subject areas by adding one or two additional letters as well as some numbers. For a more detailed breakdown of any subject, go to the Library of Congress web page.
So, How Do I Find a Book on the Shelf?
Try this exercise, which was put together by the librarians at Kent State University, to see if you have figured out the Library of Congress system!
Finding Books on Your Topic
Once you have chosen a topic and done your background research you will be ready to conduct more comprehensive research using books.
Use the Library Catalog to find books. Books can provide a broad overview of a topic or in-depth information. You can search for books by author, title, subject, or keyword.
Use the following terms to search for books on John Steinbeck and his work:
Remember to search by SUBJECT to find books about Steinbeck and his work.
If you want to see if we have a copy of one of his novels, search by Author or Title.
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Below are some of the library's online resources which can help you get plot overviews, character studies, and critical information on the author and his work. Off-campus use requires login. Enter your Cerritos College login when prompted. |
You can search these sources either by the name of the author or the name of the work.
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Below are some books in the library in which you will find plot overviews, character studies, and critical information on the author and his work. |
Books with shelf location REFERENCE STACKS cannot be checked out but student may photocopy pages.
Critical Survey of Long Fiction by 
The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck by 
The Harvest Gypsies by 
Industrialism in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath by 
John Steinbeck : A Documentary VolumeLiterature and Its Times by 
Novels for Students by Readings on "The Grapes of Wrath" by A Study Guide to Steinbeck by 
