The Reference department assists patrons with their research and informational needs as well as houses reference material for patrons’ use. Reference collections do not circulate.  Patrons may use reference material in the library and make copies as needed.  The reference books are catalogued using the Library of Congress Subject Classification and Subject Heading as indicated by the list below.  In addition to print materials, the department also houses and provide access to the Online Library Databases including EBSCOhostweb, Ethnic Newswatch, Infotrac Reference Gold, Wilson Web, OCLC FirstSearch, African American Biographical databases, Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, Literature Resource Center, SIRS and the Online Public Access Catalog.  Using these databases on campus does not require User ID or password.  However, to access these databases off campus, patrons are advised to contact the Reference Desk for User ID and corresponding password as well as come to the Reference Desk for assistance on using Library resources and services.  A professional librarian is always present at the Reference Desk to assist library users during the Library’s business hours. Library Information provides the Library hours.

Reference books’ call numbers as well as majority of the Library’s collections are maintained and classified using the Library of Congress Classification and Subject Headings.  Primarily:

A--General works
B--Philosophy, psychology, Religion
C--Auxiliary sciences of history (general)
D--History/Europe
E--History: America
G--Geography, Anthropology, Recreation
H--Social Sciences
J--Political Science
K--Law
L--Education
M--Music
N--Fine Arts
P--Language and Literature
Q--Science
R--Medicine
S--Agriculture
T--Technology
U--Military Science
V--Naval Science
Z--Bibliography, Library Science, Information Resources (general)