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 
Use the boxes below to see online and print resources about the author and the novel. If you need more, go to the Library Catalog to find additional books available in the Cerritos College Library. You can search for books by author, title, subject, or keyword.
You can use some of the broad subject headings below to help you find literary criticism books in the library:
Some keyword searches inlcude:
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HINT: To find books written about an author search by Subject, to find a book written by an author search by Author. Always type the last name first, e.g. Hemingway, Ernest. |
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Here are some of the library's online resources which can help you get biographical and critical information. Online resources require login for off-campus use. Enter your Cerritos College login when prompted. |
You should 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 which you will find plot overviews, character studies, and critical interpretation of the author's WORK. |
Books in the library's Reference Stacks area cannot be checked out, students may photocopy pages.
Critical Survey of Long Fiction by 
Cyclopedia of Literary Characters by 
F. Scott Fitzgerald by 
The Great Gatsby by 
Literature and Its Times by 
Magill's Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition, Volume 1 by 
Masterplots by 
Modern American Literature
New Essays on the Great Gatsby by 
Novels for Students by 
The Oxford Companion to American Literature by Twentieth-Century American Literature by Twentieth Century Interpretations of The Great Gatsby by 
Twentieth Century Literary Criticism by  |
Below are some books to help you find biographical and historical information on the AUTHOR. |
Books in the library's Reference Stacks area cannot be checked out, students may photocopy pages.
American National Biography by 
American Writers by 
Contemporary Authors by 
F. Scott Fitzgerald by 
F. Scott Fitzgerald by 
F. Scott Fitzgerald A to Z by 
World Authors, 1900-1950 by |
Below are some books where you will find information about the 1920's |
Books in the library's Reference Stacks area cannot be checked out, students may photocopy pages.
The 20th Century, 1901-1940
American Decades, 1920-1929
American Decades Primary Sources - 1920-1929Literature and Its Times