Communication: Books

The basic Library Catalog search is a keyword search--you simply type your search terms into the box, and the catalog retrieves all the items that have your search terms in their catalog records.

Searching by subject is another way to find materials that focus on your topic. Each item in the Library Catalog has one or more subject terms (headings) assigned to it, When you search by subject, you retrieve only the items that have the subject for which you searched. To make a subject heading more specific, subheadings are added after it. A subheading is separated from the main heading by a double dash (--). Here are some good headings and subheadings for communications topics: 

Communication

Communication in politics

Internet -- Social aspects

Interpersonal Communication

Journalism

Mass media

Press

Public Relations

Reporters and Reporting

Speeches, addresses, etc. 

Once you have your subject terms, to search by subject in the Library Catalog, in the dropdown list under "Search for," select "Subject." 

To find subject headings for a subject you are studying, first use keyword searching to find some books on your general topic. Then look at their records and see what subject terms they have. You can use the subject links in the catalog records to retrieve all the items with the same subject. However, this linking scheme has some quirks, so if it seems like it is returning far too many (or too few) items, try using the Library Catalog (aka Advanced Search) screen and a Subject or Subject Phrase search with your terms.

Because communications studies are inherently interdisciplinary, you may find related books classified in many different sections of the library. If you want to browse the library stacks, here are some call numbers where you may find relevant books.

HE6000-9900 Communications technologies

P87-96 Communication and mass media

P94.7 Interpersonal communication

P95-95.6 Oral communication. Speech

P98-98.5 Computational linguistics. Natural language processing

P99-99.4 Semiotics. Signs and symbols

P99.5-99.6 Nonverbal communication

PN1900-1992: Broadcasting

PN4699-5650 Journalism and the periodical press

To find books from thousands of other libraries and request them through interlibrary loan, use WorldCat FirstSearch. You can search for books, journals, audiovisual materials, dissertations, and many other material types. When you find a resource you think would be useful in your research, you can fill out an interlibrary loan form, and Nash Library will request the book from another library.