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Good Reads: Finding Recreational Reading @ the WSU Libraries: Finding Good Reads at the WSU Libraries

Library of Congress Classification System

Potential Search Terms

Region

American fiction

English fiction

Cuban fiction

African fiction

Paris (France) fiction

Type

Popular literature

Best books

Short stories

Genre

mystery fiction

Subject

orphans fiction

Cherokee Indians fiction

Secret societies fiction

Women pioneers -- Fiction.

Frontier and pioneer life -- West (U.S.) -- Fiction.

Finding a Book to Read for Pleasure

The WSU Libraries do not separate fiction and non-fiction like most public libraries do. Although it may seem like the Libraries only offer books related to academic courses, we actually have a wide array of fiction. And finding it is easier than you might think!

Browse the shelves

If you are looking for fiction in English, the second and third floors of Holland Library is where you need to be. British, Scottish, Irish, Australian and Canadian fiction is located in the PR range; fiction written in English by authors from the Caribbean, India, Asia, New Zealand, and Africa are also located there. American fiction is found in the PS range. Each author gets a call number of his or her own, which arranges the books in alphabetical order by author, technically. What makes browsing a little tricky is that works ABOUT the author are shelved along with the works BY the author, and also that the Library of Congress classification system subdivides authors by date, based on the year of their birth.

WSU has a particularly strong collection of science fiction, and many of these novels are shelved separately in their own area. Many mysteries and thrillers are shelved here too. If you want to browse these collections, head for the PZ area on the third floor of Holland (shelf number 613). 

Contemporary writers can be found in the following areas:

British:
PR 6031 - PR 6123 (Shelves 587-588 on the 2nd floor of Holland)

Asian, African, Australian, Canadian and Caribbean:
PR9199 - PR9639 (Shelves 589-590 on the second floor of Holland)

American:
PS 3551 - PS 3626 (Shelves 604-608 on the third floor of Holland)

Here's a full list of Library of Congress call numbers in Language and Literature.

Other Ways to Find Pleasure Reading

Use the resources provided in the tabs of this Guide to search or browse for books that interest you. Many of these guides arrange fiction by genres, settings, and characters, and also provide "If you like ___, try ____" types of referrals, or "readalikes". Some provide book reviews and information about new fiction and non-fiction works.

When you see something appealing, just cut and paste the title or author over into a Search It library catalog search to see if WSU owns the item and to obtain call number and location information. If you have transportation or use Pullman Transit, you may also want to check the holdings of the Neill Public Library located in downtown Pullman. WSU students can sign up for a library card there.

Specialty Formats: Comics, eBooks, Audiobooks, and Movies

Local Public Libraries

This is fun - and true! Things I can Get for Free From My Public Library (from the Queens (NY) Library)

WSU Libraries, PO Box 645610, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-5610, 509-335-9671, Contact Us