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 Library Catalog to find books available in the Cerritos College Library. You can search for books by author, title, subject, or keyword.
The subject headings will help you find literary criticism on the work you're reading, as well as other information relating to Morrison.
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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. Most online resources require login for off-campus use. Enter your Cerritos College login when prompted. For more login information see the Database Login page. |
You can search these sources either by the name of the author or the name of the work.
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To find biographical and historical information on the AUTHOR, use the following titles. |
Reference books cannot be checked out, but students are able to photocopy pages.
American Ethnic Writers by 
American Writers by 
American Writers; a collection of literary biographies by 
Contemporary Authors New Revision Series by 
The Encyclopedia of African-American Writing by 
Gale Contextual Encyclopedia of American Literature by 
Magill's Survey of American Literature by 
Notable African American Writers by |
To find plot overviews, character studies, and critical information on the author's work, use the following books. Reference books cannot be checked out, but students can photocopy pages from them. |
Beloved Harlem by 
Black Literature Criticism by 
Contemporary Literary Criticism
Novels for Students