Mathematics: 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 (--). 

Some Mathematics Subjects

Algebra

Calculus

Geometry

Mathematics

Mathematics -- History

Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary)

Mathematicians

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.

If you want to browse the library stacks, you can use these call numbers to find books on mathematics:

Q Science

QA Mathematics

QA 1-43 General

QA 47-59 Tables

QA 71-90 Instruments and Machines

    QA 75-76.95 Calculating machines

    QA 75.5-76.95 Electronic Computers. Computer science

          QA 76.75-76.765 Computer software

QA 101-(145) Elementary Mathematics. Arithmetic

QA  150-272.5 Algebra

QA 273-280 Probabilities. Mathematical statistics

QA 299.6-433 Analysis

QA440-699 Geometry. Trigonometry. Topology

QA801-939 Analytic mechanics

These books can be found on the fourth floor of the library stacks.

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.