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COMM-181 | Intro to Online Communication

Searching for Books (and eBooks!)

Use Primo to find resources on your topic at Collins Library and beyond. 

  • When you find an item that seems relevant, look at its subject terms to find similar items. To do this, check the "Item Details" and simply click on one of the subject headings listed in the record for the book; the next screen will list all the books that share this subject term. 
  • To find the library location of a book's call number, check the library map.
  • To find eBooks, use the filters on the right to limit your results to eBooks (under "Resource Type")

Reading a Call Number

Collins Library uses the Library of Congress classification scheme to organize books on the shelves. Follow these tips to find the book you need.

Example:

The call number for this book can be found in the catalog record. It is the long string of numbers and letters next to the "Available at Collins Library" text. For this book the call number is HQ1090 .I58 2007.

Image of catalog record for "International encyclopedia of men and masculinities" edited by Michael Flood and Judith Kegen Gardener, et al. from 2007. The book has a call number of HQ1090 .I58 2007

  • Start with the top line. It is in alphabetical order. Ex. HQ
  • The second line is a whole number.  Ex. 1090
  • The third line is  a combination of a letter and numbers. Read the letter alphabetically. Read the number as a decimal, eg. Y.23, Y.34, Y.344, Y.4, etc. Ex. .I58 (*Some call numbers have more than one combination letter-number line.)
  • The last line is the year the book was published. Read in chronological order. Ex. 2001, 2005, 2010, 2015, etc. Ex. 2007

Use the library map to figure out where in the building the book is located. 

Call Numbers to Browse

If you're interested in a broad topic in Communication Studies, or would like to browse for inspiration, try one of these Library of Congress call letters:

  • BF 637   Interpersonal Communication
  • HD 30.3  Organizational Communication
  • P 1-1091Philology. Linguistics
    • P 87-96 Communication. Mass media
    • P 94.7 Interpersonal communication
    • P 95-95.6 Oral communication. Speech
    • P 99.5-99.6 Nonverbal communication
  • PN 1990-1992.92Broadcasting
    • PN 1991-1991.9 Radio broadcasts
    • PN 1992-1992.92 Television broadcasts
  • PN 1993-1999 Motion pictures
  • PN 4177-4191 Debating

Locations of books

  • New books are located in the Library lobby and are in call number order.
  • Print Reference books are on the first floor across from the Learning Commons area.
  • Book stacks: Consult the library map; look for location posters; or ask any staff member for help!