Library of Congress Subject Headings

Many academic libraries use the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) which are divided into 21 branches of knowledge represented by letters:

A - General works
B - Philosophy
C - Auxiliary sciences of history
D - History (general)
E-F - History (Americas)
G - Geography
H - Social sciences
J - Political science
K - Law
L - Education

 M - Music
N - Visual arts
P - Language and literature
Q - Science
R - Medicine
S - Agriculture
T - Technology
U - Military science
V - Naval science
Z - Bibliography; library science

Each branch is divided into more specific topics represented by combinations of letters and numbers. For example, the book Teleworking has the call number HD 2336.3 B523 1995:
H - Social sciences and business
HD - Economic history and conditions
2321 - 4730 - Industry
2331 - 2336 - Household Industry
2336.3 - Telecommuting
Many people look in the LCSH books to find suggestions about search terms to use, or even to get ideas for papers or presentations.

The LCSH are found in large, red books located at rear of the circulation desk, near the front door of the library. Look up the term you would like to use. If another term should be used instead, it will be listed. Examples of how to use these books are in the front of the first volume.
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