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PPLE 210-01N Contemporary Issues & Zines: Reference Materials

Why you need to look for the INDEX in each reference book

Here is an example from one of these encyclopedias, looking at the SUBJECT INDEX for entries on COMPETITION (this is a two-page PDF).

In this case, if you only pulled the volume that carried entries starting with the letter "C", you would find less than 1/5th of all entries that actually discussed various aspects of Competition!  Those other entries are scattered across sixteen of the volumes from this one encyclopedia!

Library of Congress

The Mark O. Hatfield Library uses the Library of Congress classification system to group items with similar topics together.  Each item is assigned a unique call number, which helps people to locate material on the shelf. The Library of Congress uses a combination of letters and numbers, and each call number begins with a letter. 

To the right are the general call numbers and the main topics within the Library of Congress system. Click on any class to view an outline of its subclasses in an interactive PDF document. 

This list is based off of the Library of Congress Classification Outline.

Reference materials

Below are key reference books that provide a general overview of a topic or help identify synonyms, related terms, or basic data. These sources often include references and lists of further readings.

Gary Klein (Reference Librarian)

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Gary Klein
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Contact:
Mark O. Hatfield Library
Willamette University
900 State Street
Salem, OR 97301
503-370-6743
Website
Willamette University

Willamette University Libraries

Mark O. Hatfield Library
900 State Street.
Salem Oregon 97301
Pacific Northwest College of Art Library
511 NW Broadway.
Portland Oregon 97209