History Subject Resource Guide

You can search for books from the LIBRARY HOMEPAGE.

Click on the Books/eBooks tab to get to HUL book collections.  Please note you can limit your search to eBooks Only or you can browse ebooks by title.

Search Hints

• Use QUOTATION MARKS if you are searching for a particular phrase or book title
• Use CAPs for boolean connectors (e.g. AND, OR, NOT)
• Use ADVANCED SEARCH for title, author or subject heading searches (works better than the basic search screen!)
• If you are getting a lot of irrelevant results, try taking off the EXPAND SEARCH WITH RELATED TERMS filter
• Locate books in other libraries by filtering results to LIBRARIES WORLDWIDE and requesting books via Interlibrary Loan
• See the handout below for some additional search tips
• See the WorldCat Discovery page for handouts describing additional features

Books are shelved together by subject.  You may want to start your search by using DISCOVERY and identifying a few books on your topic.  Keep in mind that books are shelved in Axinn Library by subject area so when you find a book that is relevant to your research, take some time and see what other books are in that area.  

You may just want to browse the stacks by subject area.  Axinn Library uses the Library of Congress Classification system to arrange books by topic on the shelves.  Click on the link above to see the classifications.  Then use the Book Call Number Floor Locator Chart to determine the floor where you will find your subject area.

When browsing, keep in mind that HISTORY is a broad area and often books can be classified in other areas.  For example, books about labor history may be classified (or shelved) with Labor Studies (in the H's), books about the history of medicine may be classified with Medicine (in the R's).  Click on the link above to view the entire Library of Congress Classification outline.