The LBBL uses the Library of Congress classification system. Books on sociology are located in the class H - Social Sciences under the sub class H - Social Sciences (General) and HM - Sociology (General) sections on the 2nd Floor (2nd Floor Map) and 3rd Floor (3rd Floor Map) of the library. However, your research may take you to many other areas of the library where your sociology topic overlaps or intersects with other topics such as education, healthcare, technology, etc. The following is a list of several highlighted topics under the sub class:
You can locate physical materials by searching the library's catalog on the library homepage: https://lbbl.nsu.edu/
1. Enter your search terms and click the "Search" button in the box to search the LBBL Catalog. By default, the system will use a keyword search looking for your terms across the entire catalog.
If you would like to limit the type of search:
2. The results list has icons to indicate what type of materials are available. To remove E-Book results from the catalog and focus on physical items in the library, click the "Modify Search" button at the top of the results page:
3. On the "Modify Search" page you can use the "Add Limits" field to select a specific material location or type. For example, click "Circulation Stacks (Second Floor)" to limit the search results to only physical books located on the second floor of the library (note that you can use "Ctrl + mouse click" to select multiple options. Click the "Submit" button to view the modified search results.
4. The results list will show the location of your item using the Library of Congress Classification System call number. Learn how to read a call number below in the section titled "How To Find Items On The Shelf In The Library".
WorldCat Discovery searches the LBBL Catalog and libraries world-wide. This search will also return results for articles within journals.
1. Enter your search terms and click the green "Search" button to search WorldCat Discovery. By default, the system will use a keyword search looking for your terms across the entire catalog of the Lyman Beecher Brooks Library and libraries world-wide.
[This broad search capability makes WorldCat Discovery very useful for discovering a wide variety of materials even if they are not available at the Lyman Beecher Brooks Library. If you find resources that you need that are only available at other libraries, you can place a request with our Interlibrary Loan department to request to borrow the materials.]
2. The results list has multiple options for refining the search that can be customized using the filtering options contained in the left-side menu or the "Group & Refine This Search" menu on smaller screens.
3. In the filtering menu, check the boxes to apply limits and refine your results. For example, check the boxes for Norfolk State University and Print Book to limit the results to physical books available in the Lyman Beecher Brooks Library.
4. The results list will show the location of your item using the Library of Congress Classification System call number. Learn how to read a call number below in the section titled "How To Find Items On The Shelf In The Library".
1. By default, the system will search by Course. Enter your Course Abbreviation (ENG, ENG 101, etc.) and click the "Search" button in the box to search the LBBL Catalog.
2. Select your Course/Instructor from the results list to view Course Reserves for your class.
3. Review the list of materials held in the library's Course Reserves and visit the front desk on the first floor of the library to request your item.
Step 1 - Finding the Call Number:
When you search the library's catalog, your results for physical items housed in the Lyman Beecher Brooks Library will often include a Location listing and a Library of Congress call number:
Search Result:
The "Location" listing will direct you to the appropriate floor, collection, or service desk where you can retrieve the item.
The "Call #" listing is the Library of Congress call number for that item that will lead you to the item's exact shelf location.
Step 2 - Breaking Down the Call Number:
Now that you have a call number, breaking it down into its parts will tell you not only about the item's location but also the topic that the item is classified under.
Starting from the top of the call number, when written on a spine label as shown above:
Note: Library of Congress Classification call numbers are assigned to items based on their topic. This means that if you find a book that you are interested in on the shelf, you may want to browse the shelf to the left and right of your item for related materials.
Step 3 - Locating the Item on the Shelf:
Now that you have a call number from your item search, a general location in the building, and an understanding of how to read the call number, it is time to head to the shelves.
You will encounter call numbers in the stacks written in two ways, as a single line and in multiple lines. When reading a call number written as a single line, split the letters and numbers of the class and topic (BX4406.5 becomes BX 4406.5) then read the spaces as line breaks to translate them to the multiple line format. Or, vice versa, to translate from multiple line to single line format:
To find your item on the shelf, go to the location specified in your item record from your search, locate the shelves with the correct range call number using the signs on the ends of the shelves, then locate the spine label of your item on the shelf by following the call numbers to its exact location.
If you need any assistance, please contact any library staff member and we will be happy to assist you!
Special Collections / Exceptions:
Some items, such as those in the Herbert A. Marshall Collection, require the assistance of library staff and will direct you to the First Floor Circulation Desk.
Example: