Library & Information Research: Humanities English 292 / University 292 | Spring 1999 | K. Brodsky

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ASSIGNMENT #2

Name___________________________

Part I. Refine Your Search

• With as much focus as possible, write down your topic? How has it changed over the last week? What concerns do you have?

Part II. Library of Congress Subject Headings

For Part I of this assignment you will use the Library of Congress Subject Heading (LCSH) books.

1. Using LCSH look up the term SURREALISM.

• What is a broader topic?

• What is the general call number for surrealism?

• What is the call number for surrealist literature?

• Is surrealism in motion pictures an approved LCSH?

• Is surrealism in literature an approved LCSH?

2. Using LCSH look up BIOETHICS?

• What are narrower terms?

3. Using LCSH look up terms you think will be useful for your topic. Write the terms and the corresponding subject headings you find below. Try at least 3.

Part III. Classification

1. Using the blue LC Classification Outline book (hanging off the reference stacks or behind the reference desk) write down as many general call numbers you think will be helpful for your topic. (e.g. My topic is "The History of Witchcraft in American Culture." From browsing through the blue LC Classification Outline book, I think the following areas might be helpful: BF 1404-1999 call numbers for Occult Sciences; BL 1-2790 call numbers for Religion; E 186-189 call numbers for United States Colonial History).

2. Browsing the Reference shelves in one of the classification areas you wrote down above, find a book that might be helpful for your topic.

• What is the title and call number?

• Why do you think it would be helpful?

Part IV. Merlin and Melvyl

For Part III of this assignment you will use the Web versions of Merlin and Melvyl catalogs.

1. Using Merlin, do a keyword search for surrealism.

• How many records were retrieved?

• Is there any apparent organization to the list displayed?

Using Merlin, do a subject search for surrealism.

• What is the official subject heading for exhibitions of surrealist work in the United States?

• How many titles are catalogued under that subject heading?

• What are the call numbers and locations of those titles.

• Still using the same subject heading, what is the title of the work by Robert Rosenblum?

• What year was that work published?

 

 

• What is another subject heading that would lead you to this title?

2. Through the web version of Melvyl, using the full catalog,

• Do a subject search for surrealism. How many records were found?

 

 

• Do a subject search for Surrealism United States Exhibitions. How many records were retrieved?

3. Find at least one title in Merlin and one title in Melvyl that could be relevant to your topic.

Author:

Title:

Publisher:

Date of Publication:

Call Number:

Subject Heading(s):

Which Catalog:

 

Author:

Title:

Publisher:

Date of Publication:

Call Number:

Subject Headings(s):

Which Catalog:

4. You might consider ordering from IBARO a title you find in Melvyl. Remember to keep a record of the date you sent the order and the title you requested.