The document discusses how undergraduates are often unfamiliar with using Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) to search for information in university libraries. It notes that many undergraduates are overwhelmed by the large university library environment and prefer simple keyword searches over using complex LCSH terms and syntax. While LCSH is useful for precise searching, it can be difficult for novices to understand. The document considers ways to better teach undergraduates how to effectively use subject headings through library instruction sessions.

1. Library of Congress Subject Headings and Undergraduates Carol Rain Hagy

4. “ Wow. I’ve never been in a two-story library before.” --freshman in her first week at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2005

6. “ What kind of library doesn’t use the Dewey Decimal System?” --brand-new freshman at Texas Christian University, 1992

8. “ I knew where the card catalogs were, but there were so many little drawers, I wouldn’t even know where to start.” --undergraduate, early 1980s

11. “ I don’t think I click.” --freshman at the Pennsylvania State University, 2002

14. “ The stuff didn’t make any sense. I couldn’t find the right article. When I was looking at books in the reference area that tell you specific names that the online uses, I saw ‘Languages and Languages,’ which made no sense to me.” --undergraduate, early 1990s

16. When assigning subject headings, catalogers try to be as specific as possible while still describing the contents of the whole work. That means something about grown children of alcoholics will be under “Adult children of alcoholics.” This makes sense. But students—especially ones new to the subject, new to research, or new to exploring the topic for an assignment—will start out looking under very broad terms. In this case, the student is likely to begin with “alcoholics,” not find much, and abandon the idea without realizing that good, specific books exist.

23. The bigger the word, the more sources are tagged, or labeled, with that word. If you click on “copyright,” you are taken to a list of sources about copyright. Anyone affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania can tag something in their catalog.

26. Fortunately, there is evidence that students do learn to search better with a little instruction. If we take the time to explain some basic concepts about Library of Congress Subject Headings, we can help students improve the results of their searches. Students should know that there is an alternative (and supplement) to keyword searching (although they may resist using it!), but they are not going to be able to figure out how it works on their own.

27. “ My instructor told me to always put search terms on separate lines.” --freshman at Penn State, 2004, after a library instruction class