How to Do Library Research

Let's say you have found a book using OneSearch.

"Available" means it is not checked out.

The code in parentheses, BF408 .K2236 2023, is the Library of Congress call number. The Library of Congress in Washington D.C. assigns a call number to books, which you can think of as its address, or where it will live on the shelf. It is similar to the Dewey Decimal System used by K-12 and public libraries.

In OneSearch, the call number reads straight across. However, on the book spine, it is printed on multiple lines, which makes it easier to read.

• Library books are arranged alphabetically by call number, from A to Z. This book, which has a call number starting with B, will be near the elevators on the second floor.
• First you will see call numbers starting with the letter B, then BA, then BB, BC, BD, and so on.
• The first letter of a call number indicates the general subject of the book. B is used for for Psychology and Religion.
• Numbers follow the letters to narrow the general subject - in this example, BF 309 to BF 499 covers the topcs within psychology of Consciousness and Cognition.
  • Once you have found a book you are interested in, there will be books on similar topics next to it on the shelf, and you may stumble on something even better for your research!
• The next line is a code representing the author or title of the book. This third line (also called a "cutter number") is read as a decimal. For example, this means that .K2236 will come before .K300, which will come before .K9.  
• The year of publication is on the next line. If there are multiple editions of a book, published in different years, they will be in order from earliest to latest. 
  • This comes in handy if you are researching a topic that requires up-to-date information. You can see how current the information in the book is without having to take it off the shelf!

What to do if you can't find the book, or you're in a hurry

Ask a librarian for help! We are always happy to walk upstairs with you and help you find a book on the shelf. We can also help you place a request, clarify your research topic, or create citations of the sources you find. 

What to do if the book is not available

If you look up a book in OneSearch, and it says "Not Available," that means someone else has checked it out.

You can "request" the book, which means that once it is returned, we will set it aside for you and send you an email to come pick it up at the Circulation Desk. If you click on the title, you will see a yellow alert bar that reads, "Please sign in to check if there are any request options," with a link to sign in.

You will sign into OneSearch the same way you sign into Canvas, using your SCC email credentials.  

What to do if the book is located in the Oversize section

The library has some books that are too tall to fit with the rest of the books. The majority of these are art books, which have call numbers starting with N, but we have large books on other subjects as well.

The Oversize section is located near the Student Innovation Zone on the second floor, between study rooms 215 and 217. 

You may want to walk around the library and explore the collection, without having a particular book in mind. You can use this chart as a guide to Library of Congress call numbers and subjects.