The Reference Section of the Library is on the Main Floor (Second Floor) behind the Reference Desk (and a Reference Librarian is always on duty to answer your questions.)
The Reference Section is arranged by the Library of Congress Classification system, the same as the Stacks upstairs on the Third Floor. The call numbers start with letters, and you will be able to browse the shelves to find similar books on any given subject. If you find a call number area that is useful in the Reference section, you can go upstairs and check the Stacks to see if there are additional books that you can check out.
(Note: The Reference books normally do not circulate, but there are photocopiers and scanners nearby to get the information you need from the Reference books.)
Reference books can give you a general overview of your topic and can help you identify key words to enter in library catalogs and article databases. The articles also usually contain References and may be written by top experts in the field.
