Using Books (Traditional and Digitized)
Becoming familiar with the ways in which books are classified and arranged is critical for the efficient and effective use of library resources. This brief overview is aimed to get you started; a few minutes spent here could save substantial time later on.
Finding Books with Summit and Library of Congress Classification
Syracuse University Library’s extensive book holdings are rich in materials that support historical research. The University Library arranges books using the Library of Congress (LC) classification system, which organizes materials in the stacks and reference collections (e.g., encyclopedias, dictionaries). Shelving books by their classification numbers keeps books on similar topics together and enables discovery through shelf-browsing.
The primary sections of the LC classification system for European and American history are D and E-F. Thus, books on British history are found in DA, French history in DC, German history in DD, etc. Books on American history at the national level will be found in E, while books on American history at state, county, and local levels will be found in F. A detailed breakdown of the LC classification scheme is available here.
Classification numbers for specific titles can be found by searching SUMMIT:For example, a SUMMIT search for David McCullough’s book 1776 shows that the classification number is E208.M396 2005. Further searching on the base number, E208, either on-line in SUMMIT or on the library shelves will help you identify additional titles on the subject of the American Revolutionary War. Similarly, among the titles retrieved in a SUMMIT search on the subject heading “New York (State) – History – 1775-1865” is New York in the Age of the Constitution, 1775-1800, which is classified F123.N595 1992. Further searching on the base classification number F123 will help to identify other titles on the early history of New York State.
Sources of E-Books and Digitized Books
There are many sources of full-text online in various digital libraries and archives. Some of those most relevant to the subject of history can be found on the Digital Libraries page of this subject guide.
Using Journals in Research
Syracuse University Library subscribes to many journals that support historical research. Sometimes the full text of specific articles can be accessed electronically. In other cases, specific articles are available only in paper versions (either in bound volumes on the Library shelves, or in loose issues in Current Periodicals on the second floor on microfilm or microfiche).
Articles not found in the digital, paper, or microformat holdings of Syracuse University Library can be obtained through interlibrary loan. Requests must be submitted electronically through ILLiad.
E-Journal Locator
Use the Locator to identify electronic journals to which Syracuse subscribes. Journals, newspapers and magazines available in full-text databases, e.g., ProQuest and Expanded Academic) are included in this list.
The Locator identifies accessible electronic journals. If you need full-text of a specific newspaper, journal, or magazine article, you can search for it with the Locator.
- Enter as much citation information as you know, and the SULinks search will show links to the article if it is available electronically.
- If an electronic full-text version is unavailable, you can use the link to SUMMIT.
- If a needed article is not available at Syracuse University Library electronically, in paper format, or in microformat, you can use the link to ILLiad (the interlibrary loan system) to request that a copy of the article be obtained for you from another library.
Using Summit to Find Non-Digitized Articles
Periodicals such as journals, magazines, and newspapers are kept in various locations in Bird Library and branch libraries. The location of a specific title / volume / issue depends upon the publication’s subject, age, and format. For detailed holdings information about a specific title, check the SUMMIT Catalog using the “Journal Title” search option in the "Search by" menu.
Current issues are generally kept on the 2nd Floor of Bird Library. Journals and magazines are shelved alphabetically by title. Current newspapers are located in a separate section.
Older issues are kept in locations throughout Bird Library and branch libraries. Paper-format journals and magazines are bound and classified, and the bound volumes are shelved in the library stacks by call number.
Microfilm or microfiche reproductions of periodicals are kept in cabinets in Media Services in the basement of Bird Library. Microfiche is classified and arranged by call number; microfilm is arranged by accession numbers that are assigned as reels are added to the collection.
Additonal Information on Using Library Resources
