REL 320: Personal Authenticity: Finding Resources

Professor: Zaid Adhami
Fall 2023

Using Subject Headings

Subject Headings are terms that are most commonly used to describe the topic that a resource covers. Unlike keywords, which are user generated, subject headings are created and maintained by an authoritative institution. Since Williams Libraries, and most academic libraries, organizes our resources using the Library of Congress Classification, we also utilize Library of Congress Subject Headings to provide access to our collections by subject. Subject headings are arranged systematically, and can be useful tools to help browse the collection by topic. Subject headings for each resource are located in the "Details" section of the catalog record, under "Subjects."

A screenshot of the Details section of a record in the library catalog with the subjects section in a green box

Below are examples of Subject Headings that may be used as starting points for your research projects. Clicking on a subject below will take you to a list of resources that cover the listed subject.

Subject Heading Examples

Authenticity (Philosophy) >                                               Self (Philosophy) >

Self-realization >                                                              Social ethics >

Self >                                                                                Self-doubt >

Identity (Psychology) >                                                     Self and Identity >

Sexual Identity >                                                               Sexual minorities -- Identity >

The Self >                                                                          The Other >                                                                      

Or try combining subjects in an Advanced search like Popular culture AND Gender Identity >

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