SPAN 499: Transatlantic Golden Age Literature (Carcelén-Estrada): Getting Started

Books at Dinand Library are arranged by Library of Congress Call Number.

• Reference books are in the Main Reading Room.
• Call numbers A through G are on the upper (Mezzanine) level.
• Call numbers H through Z are on the lower (Ground) level (with a few exceptions).
• Oversize books (with a "+" in the call number) are shelved at the end of the normal section for that letter. 

Start with a Keyword search, find one or two relevant books, then look at the subject headings (kind of like "tags") for those books. You can follow the subject heading links in the catalog to find similar books, or you can use the terms in the subject headings to revise your search strategies. Also, once you have a call number in hand, go to the stacks and browse that area - you will be in the right place to look around and find other books on your topic.

Example Subject Headings: 
Spanish literature -- Classical period, 1500-1700 -- History and criticism

Spanish American literature -- To 1800 -- History and criticism

Have you ever discovered a book or article that would be perfect for your research topic, only to learn that Holy Cross doesn't own it? That's where InterLibrary Loan comes in. 

InterLibrary Loan or ILL is a service that allows you to request books owned by other libraries all over the US -- and in some cases, around the world! Once you've placed a request, another library will send the book to Holy Cross for your use. 

Some things to keep in mind: 

• Depending on where a book is traveling from, it can take up to 1-2 weeks (though usually less) to arrive. Make sure to plan ahead!
   
• ILL books often have shorter checkout periods than books you borrow from HC Libraries. When your book arrives, it will come with a sticker indicating the due date.

To find books or journals outside of HC Libraries -- and to request them -- use the    database, which combines library catalogs from all over the world.

In many cases, you can also use the button in the article databases and then choose Interlibrary Loan to submit a request for an article or book chapter. 

Once you locate an item you would like to request, find this box in the WorldCat record and click ILLiad Interlibrary Loan: 


 Then log-in, fill in the information required, then hit Submit Request.