Books are shelved in general subject categories using the Library of Congress classification system. You may want to supplement your use of the catalog book search with browsing shelf areas for your topic.
Many books on history are shelved on the library's upper level from D (world history) through E and F (history of the Americas).
Image from the College and Lutheran Church Archives, Digital Collections, College Photographs
from https://www.tutorialspoint.com/public_library_management/public_library_management_library_classification.htm
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