Finding Books

Search for books (both print and electronic), microforms, or audiovisual materials about your subject using the Library Catalogue.

The location and call numbers for print books are listed with each book, ebooks will provide a link to an electronic version.

Print books with the location of "Stacks" are shelved on the Upper Level. Reference and Special Collections books are located on the Main Level.  Microforms (microfilm and microfiche) are located next to Special Collections on the Main Level.  Audiovisual materials (videocassettes, audio cassettes, LPs, and CDs) are shelved in the Media Centre/Collaboratory on the Main Level.

If you need help finding a book, microform, or audiovisual materials by their call number, please see the staff at the Library Service Desk.

Free Online Ebook Collections

 Links to selected free online collections (not library subscriptions):

• The Cambridge History of English and American Literature: contains over 303 chapters and 11,000 pages, with essay topics ranging from poetry, fiction, drama and essays to history, theology and political writing. 
• The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: electronic version of the complete works of William Shakespeare. 
• Literature for Children: a collection of the treasures of children's literature published largely in the United States and Great Britain from before 1850 to beyond 1950. 

Example Searches

A few different ways to start searching for books on your topic: 

Examples of subject headings to check:

• Drama -- Technique
• Fiction
• Poetry

Also, names of literary movements, such as:

• Harlem Renaissance
• Romanticism
• Symbolism (Literary Movement)

and names of specific authors, such as:

• Atwood, Margaret
• Behn, Aphra
• William Blake

Authors may be searched using first name last name or last name first name.

and particular topic, such as:

• Canadian Poetry
• Feminism and Literature
• Masculinity in Literature

For help in deciding on subject headings to check, consult the Library of Congress Subject Headings and the Canadian Subject Headings, which can be found in the Reference area.

Modified by: Keltie MacPhail, B.A., M.L.I.S.
Date Modified:  18-March-2020

Created by Cathy Callaghan B.A, M.L.S.
Date Created: 4-April-2009