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Sociology/ Sociologie (GL/SOCI): Dictionaries, Encylopedias & Handbooks

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Dictionaries

Encyclopedias & Handbooks

Research Tips

Print Reference Collections

Electronic offerings continue to grow. Nevertheless, many specialized dictionaries, encyclopedias, and handbooks are still produced in print. Often the Library houses print reference materials as a non-circulating collection.

This means you can consult items in-person. Borrowing may not be possible. Records in OMNI list the location as "Reference".

Reading Call Numbers

Academic libraries use the Library of Congress (LC) system to classify collections. As a result, the Library stores print books on the same topic together.

A call number (e.g., HM 1206 J36 2018) works like an address to help you find books on the shelves .

HM = This is the class and reflects the subject (e.g. sociology)
1206 = This is the subclass and also reflects the subject (e.g. social psychology)
J36 = This is the author cutter number
2018 =  This is the publication date

Finding a Book on the Shelves

Once you have the call number of the item you want (e.g., QL 703 H355 2009), you can retrieve the book from the shelves. First, make sure the item status is "Available".

The Leslie Frost Library keeps reference materials on the first floor in the Reference Room.

The status of these items will be "Non-circulating". This means you can consult materials in-person. Borrowing may not be possible.

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