Literary Research Books, Videos & Other Materials

Use the Library Catalog (hosted by the South Dakota Library Network) to determine the location of books, periodicals, and media resources in Hilton M. Briggs Library. The catalog's online "Tips" and "Help" features provide information on how to search the catalog.

To view the list of new books relating to English and literary topics arriving at Briggs Library each month, check the library's Acquisitions page. Click on the link for "New Books" and scroll to call numbers listed below. The titles on the list are linked directly to a citation which leads to the full item record in our library catalog, should you wish to obtain additional information about the book.

Works of literature are classed under P in the Library of Congress Classification System.

P	Philology and linguistics
PA	Classical languages and literature
PB-PH	Modern European languages
PL	Languages and literatures of Eastern Asia, Africa, Oceania
PM	American Indian languages and Artificial languages
PN	Literary history and collections (General)
PQ	Romance literatures (French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese)
PR	English literature
PS	American literature
PT	Germanic literatures (German, Dutch, Flemish, Afrikaans, Scandinavian)

After being arranged by nationality, works of literature are subdivided into four categories:

History and criticism
Collections or anthologies of more than one author
Individual authors
Non-national literature, if appropriate

Works by individual literary authors are grouped by time period under each national literature. Within that time period, they are assigned specific call numbers in an alphabetical sequence. For example, works by American literary authors are grouped into five time period divisions:

17th-18th century	PS700-PS893
19th century	PS991-PS3369
1900-1960	PS3500-PS3549
1961-2000	PS3550-PS3576
2001+	PS3600+

Works written by an individual author and works about that author are arranged together. To find works about a particular author, do a keyword search on the Library Catalog under the author's name. The subject heading will often include the phrase "Criticism and interpretation" after the author's name.

Listed below are selected subject headings that can be used to search the Library Catalog, or possibly other databases, for materials related to Literature. General call numbers for locating books are listed for each subject heading. The use of more specific subject headings or keywords is recommended for most topics. Email the SDSU Librarians or call 688-5570 or 800-786-2038 for help with search terminology.

Subject Headings	Call Numbers
American literature--20th century--History and criticism	PS221-PS228
American literature--Indian authors--History and criticism	PS153.I52
American literature--Indian authors--Literary collections	PS508.I5
American literature--Women authors--History and criticism	PS147+
American literature--Women authors--Literary collections	PS508.W7
Authorship	PN101-PN249
Criticism (Literary criticism)	PN80-PN99
English language--Grammar	PE1001+
English language--Style	PE1402+
English literature--History and criticism	PR1-PR981
Journalism	PN4699+
Linguistics	P121-P149
Literary movements	PN597+
Literature--Dictionaries	PN41-PN43
Literature--History and criticism	PN80-PN99; PN441-PN1009.5
Quotations	PN6080+
Shakespeare, William	PR2750-PR3112
American literature--West (U.S.)--History and criticism	PS271
West (U.S.)--Literary collections	PS561

This page was created and is maintained by Lisa Lindell.
Contact Information: Hilton M. Briggs Library, SBL 2115, SDSU, Brookings, SD 57007-1098, Phone: 605-688-5570, Fax: 605-688-6133, Email Us
Updated: 14 February 2008 by me