PCC Library Books
Search the Library Catalog 
Tips for searching the catalog:
- USE simple words or phrases, like "immigration policy."
- AVOID typing in long phrases.
- Find books at a specific campus OR select e-books only by clicking Modify Search
- Or request books from another campus by clicking
Search Terms
Search terms are the words you use to find materials in the library catalog. Recommended terms for this course include:
Where are the books?
PCC Libraries organize their books based on the Library of Congress Classification System. Each book gets an LOC "call number" which identifies it:
Example: GN 17.E75 2001 is the call number for A History of Anthropology by Thomas Hylland Eriksen and Finn Sivert Nielsen. (1)
- GN represents the major area: Anthropology.
- 17 represents the minor area: General anthropology.
Library of Congress areas of particular interest:
| GN | Anthropology |
| HM through HV | Social sciences on groups / cultures / communities |
| P | Linguistics |
(1) Eriksen, Thomas Hylland and Finn Sivert Nielsen. A History of Anthropology. Sterling, VA: Pluto Press, 2001.
Parts of a Book Citation
Confused about what goes in a citation for an academic article? Here's what to look for:
- Author: Get the full names of the authors. Some citation styles require full names, some don't - best to be prepared.
- Title: Make sure to get the whole title. Many book titles are separated by a semi-colon (:) and you need both parts.
- Date: When was the book published? Sometimes books are re-published, or new editions are issued. Look for the most recent date listed.
- Publisher: Make a note of who published the book.
- City of Publication: Where is the publisher located? If all else fails - Google the publisher!
- Page Numbers: Page numbers specify where in the book you found the information or quote you are using.