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COLL 150: Consumer Revolution, Displaying Empire, and Imperial Nostalgia (Fall 2022)

Finding Subject Headings

Subject Headings are special search phrases used by librarians to identify a major topic. They are sometimes difficult to guess, but through keyword searching you can find the appropriate subject heading.

WorldCat

W&M Libraries has an Outstanding collection on Atlantic History, but there are always going to be books we don't own. Use WorldCat & Interlibrary Loan to order books we don't currently have in the collection:

Finding Books at Swem

The W&M Library looks small from outside, but the collection of books is massive (part of the library is underground, and we use high-density shelving).

Begin With Keywords

Start with your topic. Example: I'm interesting in the consumption of goods in the British World during the colonial period. 
Key Terms:

British Empire OR Great Britian
Consumption OR Trade

Results aren't great. Try "Great Britian" AND consumption

Narrow the results with subjects or publication date.

 

I see  "Great Britain" AND consumption are both subjects. Narrow the search and find fewer results: