Use the library catalog to identify and locate books, video, audio and other material in our library. It is often best to begin with a detailed keyword search. Once you have identified an item that is within the scope of your research, use the subject headings found in the record describing it to locate similar materials. Also, when you retrieve a book from the shelf, you may wish to peruse the books shelved near it as they are likely to be on the same, or a related, subject.

Use WorldCat to identify materials held by other libraries around the world. Most of these you will need to request via interlibrary loan should you wish to use them. Sewanee ILL, our interlibrary loan system, is linked below. Please feel free to use the interlirbary loan service, but be sure you have planned for the time it will take for books to be shipped here. Articles are usually delivered electronically and, therefore, much quicker.

Google Book Search offers certain advantages such as the ability to search the full-text of works as well as the ability to view the text of works that are no longer restricted by copyright. If you find something in Google Books that appears to be useful for your research, but you cannot view the book, be sure to check to see if the book is in our library. If not, you can place an interlibrary loan request.

Below is a very general outline of the major Library of Congress Classification areas in which materials in French studies can be found.  Using the library catalog is best to pinpoint materials; however, the areas listed below can also help guide you to areas in which you can browse for materials.

AE 25   Encyclopedias  (Reference and Oversize)

DC 0-801  French history

N 6841-6853   French art

PC  2000-2899  French language, including dictionaries

PN  2631-2638  French theater

PQ  0-3999  French literature