How to find books in the MSE Library

The online catalog for the Libraries contains records for books and other materials located in all Johns Hopkins Libraries. This includes the Eisenhower Library, the Welch Medical Library, the library at SAIS, the George Peabody Library, and others.

To find information about an author:

• Do a Subject Alphabetical search on the last name, first name. (Put the comma and a space after the last name). Example: kafka, franz
• Do a Basic Subject Keyword search on the author's name (format is not important).

To find  information about a specific work: 

• Try a Basic Subject Keyword search on some words from the title.       Example: recherche temps
• Try a Basic Subject Keyword search on the author's last name and a word from the title.  Example: joyce wake
• Do a Subject Alphabetical search on the author's name and look for the subject heading "Criticism and interpretation". Also scan the headings for one that might include the specific work you're looking for.

The Literature collections are found on D-level at MSEL under the following call numbers:

• PO (White Labels, Compact shelving): Books on English literature, cataloged before 7/96.
• PR  1-9680 (Blue Label Section): Books on English literature cataloged after 7/96.
  
• PQ (White Labels, Compact shelving and beyond): Books on American literature, cataloged before 7/96.
• PS  1-3576 (Blue Label Section): Books on American literature cataloged after 7/96.
  
• PH (White Labels, Compact shelving): Books on French language and literature, cataloged before 7/96.
• PQ  1-3999 (Blue Label Section): Books on French literature cataloged after 7/96.
  
• PG (White Labels, Compact shelving): Books on Italian language and literature, cataloged before 7/96.
• PQ  4001-5999 (Blue Label Section): Books on Italian literature cataloged after 7/96.
  
• PJ (White Labels, Compact shelving): Books on Spanish language and literature, cataloged before 7/96.
• PQ  6001-8929 (Blue Label Section): Books on Spanish literature cataloged after 7/96.
  
• PM (White Labels, Compact shelving): Books on German language and literature, cataloged before 7/96.
• PT 1-4897 (Blue Label Section): Books on German literature cataloged after 7/96.