Subject Search

Definition

A Subject Heading search must use terms as they are found in the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) list or the National Library of Medicine's Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). list.  Subject Searches use "left-hand" truncation, so you only need to enter the beginning of a subject heading to browse a list of headings beginning with that term.

Search Strategies

Select Subject from the search options and type the beginning of the subject heading. Subheadings are listed alphabetically after a main heading:

    Examples:

  • france--history--revolution
  • women--italy
  • censorship--united states--encyclopedias

Proper names can be searched as subjects to find materials about a person:

    Examples:

  • hemingway ernest

Limits do not function in a Subject Heading search.

Alternative Search Options

If you don't know the correct LC or Medical subject heading, find at least one record relevant to your topic by doing a Title or Keyword search. Select a record from your search results and look at the Full record display. Then use the subject heading(s) found in the record that most closely matches your topic for additional searches. Click on the heading to do a subject search on this heading.

You may also search subjects by keywords. For more information on keyword searching, see Keyword Search help.

If you would like further assistance, Ask a Librarian for help.