Finding Library Materials
The Library catalog is often the most appropriate place to begin your research. It enables you to search for materials in many different ways e.g., author, title, subject, keyword, call number, journal title, etc. For materials on a specific subject, enter your term(s) into the Subject or Keyword search boxes. The Library of Congress Subject Headings (Z695.L695+) located near the Reference Desk suggests search terms (subject headings). Some examples of relevant subject headings in Education follow.

Subject Headings

"Education" is a broad term to use in searching by subject. Enter the most specific term for the topic to get more precise results.

Here are a few examples of more specific subject headings.

[See also the specific Topics in Education Area on the navigation bar to the left.]

African Americans Education
Discrimination in Education
Education, Higher
Early Childhood Education
Special Education
Teachers, Training of

To find education material by country or region, enter the country name first, followed by the appropriate term. For example:

Education - France

Education, higher - China

Call Number Areas -- see a list of education call number areas so that you can get a sense of where education materials generally are in the Library's collection. Education call numbers usually begin with "L". The Library Catalog provides a call number and location for each item. The call number consists of an alphanumeric string based on the Library of Congress classification system. View an example of how to read a call number.

Other Library Catalogs
To expand your research to other libraries, try the following catalogs. Ways to obtain materials not owned by UMass Amherst Libraries.

Four College Catalog
Search the Library Catalog of Smith, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, and Amherst Colleges.

Virtual Catalog
Search the Library Catalogs of many New England academic libraries.

WorldCat (UMass Amherst students, faculty, and staff use their OIT account for off-campus access)
Search the catalogs of thousands of libraries around the world.

CW/MARS Catalog
Contains records for the materials of participating public, academic, school, regional, and special libraries in Central and Western Massachusetts.

For comments or suggestions concerning this page, please contact: smcginty@library.umass.edu