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Library Resources: How Do I...?

Tutorials on using Gertrude Kistler Library, online library resources, and various information sources from elsewhere.

What's On Each Floor?

Please note: the Ground Floor of the Library is currently closed for renovations. Please speak to a librarian if you wish to retrieve an item located on the ground floor. We look forward to sharing more updates with you on the renovation progress soon.

The Library has three floors, each with different types of resources available. The Library entrance is on the Main Floor, across from the Sharon Latchaw Hirsh Community Center. An online campus map is available here. 

Main Floor
Third Floor
  • Remembering Sr. Helen Mary Weisbrod, SHCJ Information Commons:
    • Information Desk
    • Reference collection
    • Popular reading, magazines, and music CDs
    • Eleanor's Cafe (coffee and snack machines)
    • Study rooms with video viewing equipment
    • Printer
  • Circulating collection books: call numbers A - C
  • Staff offices
  • Change machine
  • Restrooms
  • Front Reading Room:
    • Faculty Publications
    • Alumni Publications
    • Oversized Books
  • Circulating collection books: call numbers D - PS
  • Reading Room: Paul Ingersoll Signed Publisher's Bindings Collection
  • Room 301:
    • Homer Collection
    • African-American Collection
    • Yvonne Chism-Peace Women's Poetry Collection
    • Iwilla Literary Press Collection
  • Staff offices
  • Archives (not open to the public; if you need to use archival materials, contact 610-527-0200 x2208 or archives@rosemont.edu to schedule an appointment)
  • Room 304:
    • The Institute for Ethical Leadership and Social Responsibility Collection 
    • Thesis Collection
 Ground Floor
  • Learning Commons Computing Area:
    • Educational and popular DVDs
    • Printer
  • Copier
  • Room 105: Game Room
  • Room 107: Anne Hargadon Trotter Seminar Room
  • Room 110:
    • Moving stacks
    • Circulating collection books: call numbers PT - Z
  • Room 112: Back issues of print periodicals and microfilm
  • Room 113:
    • Rosemont College Rare Book Collection
    • ECCL (Early Catholic Children's Literature) Collection
    • Rosemont College Art Collection
    • Rare Children's Book Collection
  • Room 114: TCLC Office
  • Room 116: Children's book collection
  • Room 117:
    • Rosemont Training/Information Literacy Center
    • Rosemont Collection

How Do I Read A Call Number?

The Library uses the Library of Congress classification system. If you're not familiar with LC call numbers, they can seem a little confusing, but don't worry: here's a quick explanation of how they work.

Books are arranged first alphabetically, using the letters at the start of the call number: LC487 .C43 1994
Then numerically, by the numbers that come directly after the letter. These are read as whole numbers: in other words, 400 comes later than 43. LC487 .C43 1994
Then alphabetically again, by the letter that comes after the decimal point: LC487 .C43 1994
Then numerically again, by the number that comes directly after that letter. These are read as decimal numbers: in other words: 55 comes later than 541. LC487 .C43 1994
There may be another letter-number combination after the one with the decimal point in front of it. If so, you read it the same way: first alphabetically by letter, and then numerically in decimal order. BX1795 .I57 E83 2000
The four-digit number at the end of the call number is the publication date of the item. LC487 .C43 1994

Want to practice? Try this LC Call Numbers Quiz, provided by the librarians at Western Connecticut State University.

If you want to learn about which subjects are associated with which Library of Congress call numbers, see the Library of Congress Classification Outline.

Key Library Locations

Alumni Authors Front Reading Room
Archives Third Floor Offices
DVDs Ground Floor, Learning Commons
Children's Library Ground Floor, Room 116
Conference Room Ground Floor, Room 107
Classroom (for Information Literacy Sessions) Ground Floor, Room 117
ELSR and Graduate Thesis  Third Floor, Room 304
Faculty Publications Front Reading Room
Magazines and CDs Main Floor, Information Commons
Newspapers (current issues) Front Reading Room
Periodicals and microfilm Ground Floor, Room 112
Oversized Books Front Reading Room
Rare Books Ground Floor, Room 113
Reference Books Main Floor, Information Commons
Reserves and ILL materials Main Floor, Information Commons
Rosemont Collection Ground Floor, Room 117
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