Instruction Librarian
Welcome
Welcome to your Course guide for
CRES 299: Racial Passing in African American Literature
Collected on this guide are resources, tools, and instructions all designed to help you navigate library resources and aid you in your research. The guide is designed to take you through the research process from start to finish. On the home page you will find tutorials and information on navigating library tools such as our online catalog, our website, and the physical stacks. If you have any questions about the resources you find here, or are still feeling unsure about your research, please contact a librarian for help!
Library Video Tutorials
Library Website Tour
Watch this to get better acquainted with our library and archives website and the resources available there.
Books at Holy Cross Libraries are arranged by Library of Congress Call Number.
The Library of Congress call number system not only helps you find specific resources within our collections, but can also help you browse titles in different subject areas. We encourage you to explore the stacks frequently, because you never know what you will find! At Dinand, 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. Call numbers beginning with "M" are located in the Music Library and “Q, R, S, T” are in the Science Library.
Each letter in the call number system covers a subject area. For example, P is the call number range for Language and Literature. Each letter is then broken down into subclasses. For example, the call number range for P has subclasses from PA to PZ. This includes PR for English literature and PS for American literature. PN is the subclass for “Literature (General)” which includes important works, such as resources for literary theory and history.
For more information about Library of Congress Classification, please see the Library of Congress' Classification Outline.
Watch this video to learn how to find and check out library books in Dinand
Watch this video to learn more about reading Call numbers
Stacks Browsing Tips for CRES
Critical Race and Ethnic Studies is a little different than other academic disciplines in that it does not have just one section of the library where it can be found. CRES materials can be found all throughout the social sciences, fiction, and even science and mathematical materials. There are still a few ways you can browse for CRES topics however:
- Search the library catalog online for CRES topics
- Try searching "Critical Race" or "Ethnic Studies" in the library catalog and see what comes up. When you find a book you think fits your information need, you can use that call number to go down stairs and browse that section for books on the same topic. Remember - like topic materials are shelved together!
- Explore the Library of Congress subject headings list for topics in CRES you are interested in
- Library of Congress is the system we use at Holy Cross to organize our physical collections. It employs subject headings to define each item in a library catalog, which generally makes finding materials around specific topics easier. However, this system was designed by white cisgender men in power, and very much reflects that bias in it's subject headings. This means you must be creative in how you search for materials. Consult the list of call numbers and their subjects in library of congress (linked below) and see whether you can locate a likely section for materials on your topic. To learn more about bias in Library of Congress subject headings, check out the suggested reading below.
What is Inter Library Loan?
Inter library loan (ILL) is a completely free service where you can request books from other libraries to be delivered here for you to check out! Both physical resources and e-resources can be ordered through this system, and again it is completely free of charge. Watch the video below to learn more about how it works.