A catalog search usually begins with a keyword or subject search. History subject headings often start with a geographic heading, subdivided by subject and time. There are also subject headings for specific names of all kinds.
Examples:
Some other helpful subject areas for this class would be:
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 | |
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Causes | |
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Campaigns War films United States History and criticism. |
A keyword search scans the words in the title, corporate author, and the contents notes. Keyword searching is especially effective if you are looking for a name, using either very new or very old terminology, or searching for a slightly obscure topic which may have only a chapter written about it. If you find a relevent book through keyword searching, check the subject headings in the catalog record to find other words or phrases for subject searching.
Browsing the shelves, once you have located the classification numbers for your topic, can also be an effective strategy for finding research material.