This is only a partial list of the call numbers pertaining to English literature. For a complete listing, go to the Library of Congress Classification Outline, provided by the Cataloging Policy and Support Office of the Library of Congress.
Once a list of titles appears, by clicking on a call number of a selected title, a list of titles can be generated that would appear on the shelves next to the selected title. Prior to actually browsing an area of the collection, one could tell whether additional materials relevant to the research topic were located in that area.
Bibliographies can be used to locate primary sources. To browse, look in the reference area call numbers Z 2400 and Z2500. Bibliographies are located in other areas of the collection, too. When doing a word search, add the word bibliography. In the library catalog, terms such as letters, diaries, documents or transcripts can be added to a word search. Follow the subject fields to find additional resources.
Library of Congress Subject Headings are the words and phrases that you will use to do a Subject search (as opposed to a keyword search, where you may use any words you like).
Because subject headings are created according to a specific formula, and because it is unlikely that you will be able to guess what phrases this formula will generate, it is often helpful to do a Keyword search on your topic, and, once you find an appropriate source, examine the subjects (usually found in the middle of the page as you scroll down). You may then conduct a subject search by clicking on the linked subject heading in the catalog. Keeping a list of the phrases you find in the subject headings can help you form more and more complex and effective searches as your research progresses.
