POL 150: Comparative Politics: Books

To find books in our library, search the Library Catalog - you can also search directly via  the search box on the library's homepage. We also have a separate guide that describes how to search the catalog AND how to find books on the shelf.

When you find books that look useful, write down the Collection & the Call Number. 

General Collection, call numbers A - PQ  are on the Third Floor 

General Collection, call numbers PR - Z are on the Second (Main) Floor

Oversize are on the Third Floor, Beck Hall side

Reference are on the Second (Main) Floor, Beck Hall side

Browsing are on the Second (Main) Floor near the entrance

Young Adult & Children's Books are on the First Floor 

AV materials (DVDs, etc) are on the First Floor

Once you are in the right area, signs on the sides of the shelves will direct you further. The system is a little tricky to figure out at first, so don't hesitate to ask for directions at the Information Desk (main floor of the library).

Browse the shelves when you find a useful book. Books are shelved according to topic, so chances are you'll find other relevant books nearby.

You can check books out at the Information Desk. This page has information about loan periods, renewals, etc.  

You can (and should) also search for books in other libraries. To do this, use the advanced search in the library catalog. Scroll down to select "Libraries WorldWide." 

• Once you find a book that you want to order, click the title. On the next screen, click "Request from Another Library" under the Access Options box.
• Follow the prompts to log in with your Gustavus user name and password.
• You will get an email once the book arrives; pick it up at the Information Desk of the library.
• This process is free to you and is a great way to expand your resources.
• The Tracking Down Materials tab at the top of this guide has more information on requesting materials from other libraries.

Sometimes people shy away from books because they are longer to read than a journal article. Many disciplines still publish current research in books, so you don't want to miss out on key resources by ignoring books. There are some tricks you can use to understand a book's structure and argument, so you DON'T have to read the whole thing.

• Read the table of contents 
• Read the book's introduction/first chapter AND conclusion/last chapter - these present and highlight the main arguments
• The end of chapter one will often provide a roadmap for the rest of the book
• Skim chapter headings
• Browse the index 

Once you have a good idea of the book's structure and argument through skimming, you can narrow in on the portions of the text most useful for your research.