Writing Well: Book Learning

Book Learning

Books are “user friendly”—they're light, easy to use, and familiar. They can't crash as computers can, either. Best of all, since it takes time to write and publish a book, they tend to be reliable sources, but more on that in “Cast a Critical Eye.” Right now, you'll learn how to find the books you need to complete your research.

Since libraries have a lot of books—a university library can have over a million volumes, a community library over 100,000 tomes—classification systems were created to track the volumes. Knowing how these systems work can help you find the books you need to complete your research. It's all based on the concept of call numbers.

Books are divided into two broad classes: fiction and nonfiction. Fiction is catalogued under the author's last name. Nonfiction books, however, are classified in two different ways: the Dewey Decimal classification system and the Library of Congress classification system. The systems use completely different sets of letters and numbers, as you'll learn.

Dewey Decimal Classification System

Melvil Dewey (1851-1931) had a thing for order, which may have made life at home somewhat tense, but it did revolutionize libraries. Before Dewey came along, many libraries filed books by color or size, a chaotic system at best. Dewey's classification system, published in 1876, divided non-fiction books into 10 broad categories:

Library of Congress Classification System

The Library of Congress Classification system, in contrast, was designed for just one library—you guessed it, the Library of Congress. Since the Library of Congress system allows for finer distinctions than the Dewey system, it's been adopted by nearly all large college and university libraries. Here's how it works.

Each Library of Congress classification call number starts with a letter, followed by a number, ending with a letter/number combination. For example, here's the call number for Jack London's The Sea Wolf: PS3523.046S43.

The Library of Congress classification system has 20 classes, as follows:

Each category is further divided. For example, 500-599 covers “pure” science, including mathematics. The math books are shelved from 510-519; geometry is listed under 513. There are finer and finer categories. Dewey's system works so well that today it's used by most elementary schools, high schools, and small public libraries.

As with the Dewey system, each category in the Library of Congress system can be divided into subclasses.

Hunt and Peck

Whether you use an online card catalogue (even though there's no actual “card” involved) or a paper catalogue, there are three different ways that you can locate material in books:

• Subject search
• Title search
• Author search

Your topic determines how you search for a book. Since most research papers deal with topics and issues, you'll likely be searching by subject. Nonetheless, you'll probably have to check titles and authors as well. Consider all three ways to find information as you look through the card catalog.

Bargain Books

In addition to specific books on your topic, here are some general reference sources to consider:

• Almanacs. These handy, easy-to-use reference guides are a great source for statistics and facts. The World Almanac and The Time almanac, with Information Please are the two best-known almanacs. They're updated every year.
• Bibliographies. You'll save time if you find a bibliography, a list of books, articles, and other documents on a specific subject area. Well-known bibliographies include Guide to the Literature of Art History, Communication: A Guide to Information Sources, Science and Engineering Literature, and Social Work: A Bibliography.
• Books in Print. This annual listing of books currently in print or slated for print can tell you if a book is still being issued by the publisher. If so, the library can order a copy of the book or you can buy one yourself at a book store. If not, well … let's not go there.
• Encyclopedias. There are general encyclopedias (World Book, Britannica, Columbia, Colliers, Funk and Wagnalls) as well as technical ones. Both types can give you a reliable overview of your subject and topic.
• Guide to Reference Books. Published by the American Library Association, this useful guide has five main categories: general reference works; humanities; social and behavioral sciences; history and area studies; and science, technology, and medicine.
• Who's Who in America. Are you researching a famous person? If so check Who's Who, because it includes biographical entries on approximately 75,000 Americans and people linked to America. Who Was Who covers famous dead people.

Excerpted from The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Well © 2000 by Laurie Rozakis, Ph.D.. All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Used by arrangement with Alpha Books, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

To order this book direct from the publisher, visit the Penguin USA website or call 1-800-253-6476. You can also purchase this book at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.