Simpson Library: Linguistics: Books

Locating books on the shelves

When you find a physical book in Quest, write down its call number, and then go to the shelves.

To use call numbers, read them from the top down.

For example, here's how you'd find this book:

First, follow the alphabet to the PR section of the library, which is part of the larger P section.
Next, within the PR section, look in numerical order for 8875.
Next, within the books numbered 8875, look in alphabetical and numerical order for .P46.
(1999 is the year the book was published.)

Books are shelved according to Library of Congress Classification. In this system, the library is divided into twenty-one broad subject areas, each of which is assigned one letter of the alphabet.

Books about linguistics are classified under the letter P. For details on how books are arranged within this classification, see this PDF guide:

Library of Congress Classification Outline - Class P - Language and Literature
A detailed guide to the call numbers within the Language and Literature classification.

If you know the book you are looking for, use the UMW catalog. Use Advanced Search to combine author and title.
Use quotation marks to search for a phrase, as in "Ancient Greece" or "Roman Britain".
Use the options under "Refine My Search" to narrow your results.
The Virtual Shelf Browse will allow you to see what books are shelved near the one you've found. You can browse the shelves without coming to the libray!
Sign into the system to request that a book be held for you, or to request a scan of parts of it.

If you find an item that belongs to another library, you may request to borrow it through InterLibrary loan (ILL).

To find items owned by other libraries, visit WorldCat

To place an InterLibrary loan request, log in to your free Simpson Library ILL Account using your UMW username and password.

Cooperative Borrowing Program
You can visit other colleges and universities in Virginia and check out books from their libraries. Click the link to see which libraries participate in this program.