The WMU Libraries uses the Library of Congress (LC) classification for its books. Because of its peculiarities, you can rarely search in just ONE place for books on your topic. Use the catalog to identify books, and if you see a pattern emerging in call numbers, then you can go browse in that area in the stacks. Most American history is classified in the Es and Fs, located on the second floor of Waldo Library.
Use the Libraries' ADVANCED SEARCH to find books on your topic in the WMU collection.
If you already know the title or author, use the pull-down arrow to select Title or Author.
When looking for books by topic, enter your keyword(s) into the search boxes.
SEARCH TIP: If you are using a phrase in your search, be sure and put it in quotation marks, e.g., "harlem renaissance"
SEARCH TIP: Use an asterisk * to pick up variant endings of a word, e.g., educat* will retrieve education, educator, educational, etc.
Use the WorldCat databse to identify books on your topic. WorldCat included books at WMU as well as other libraries throughout the country. Use the interlibrary loan system to request delivery of books to your address.
Comprehensive catalog of books and other materials in libraries around the world. Contains millions of records in hundreds of languages. Items located through WorldCat must be requested through Interlibrary Loan unless they are also listed in the WMU libraries catalog. (Library Search)
Nonbook materials include (among other publication formats) journals and magazines, manuscripts, maps, electronic resources, websites, computer programs, musical scores, films, slides, sound recordings, conference proceedings, and videotapes and discs.
Google Books can be a good source for electronic versions of books.