We have a new online catalog fall semester, 2022, which is undergoing various improvements. It does not work exactly the way these older directions below portray. Some of the information about subject headings may still be useful.
It is possible to do a quick and dirty, one box keyword search of the contents of the MSU Libraries' web site, starting at the top left of the Libraries' home page. The results will be sorted into several categories to follow up on: articles from journals, books/media from our online catalog, databases, library research guides like this one, other. To do a more traditional search, read on.
Books and Media (online catalog) contains the holdings of the M.S.U. Libraries. Search by keyword (words that might be found in the book title), L.C. subject heading, title, author, author/title combination, call number, etc. The Library of Congress' List of Subject Headings Reference Z 695, first floor, East Wing, contains the official L.C. subject headings. Subject headings are standardized words and phrases assigned to each book based upon catalogers' examination of the books' contents.
Another method: do a keyword search using words you hope to find in book titles. In your search results, for books that look particularly useful to you, notice their subject headings found near the bottom of the catalog records. Click on those subject headings to find more books on that/those topics.
These are good L.C. subject headings. Use subject search.
the most basic one: women--history--Middle Ages, 500-1500
others:
civilization, medieval
conduct of life
courtly love in literature
didactic literature
France--history--medieval period, 987-1515
history, medieval
Iberian peninsula
Queens [country]--history
social history--medieval, 500-1500
upperclass women--history
women--Byzantine Empire
women--economic conditions
women--England--history--Middle Ages, 500-1500
women--France--history
women--Italy--history--Middle Ages, 500-1500
women--Germany--history
women--history
women--Spain--history
women--social conditions
