The MSU Libraries is committed to helping faculty and students succeed! We have two guides that you may find helpful:

Please contact our librarians for help with your class or research needs.

This guide will provide you with helpful tips and resources when researching topics in Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture.  Please contact the Reference Desk on the 2nd floor of Mitchell Memorial Library, (662) 325-7667, or get help from a librarian using our Ask-A-Librarian services for further questions about any of these resources.  See more the research process and writing a paper here.

Searching the Catalog & Online Databases:

You can find information on your subject by using the Mississippi State University Libraries Online Catalog & available databases. The searching strategies will work in the catalog and databases.

Two types of searches will help locate books: the 'SUBJECT' and 'KEYWORD' searches.  

The Subject Search

Use this search when looking for books about a subject, such as El Carnaval. 

 

The Keyword Search

Use this search when looking for resources that you do not know the subject heading for. Keyword searching will search the entire text.

 

 

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Phrases:

You will need to add quotation marks at the beginning and end of phrase.

 

 

Example: 'Cada loco con su tema'

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Boolean Searching (AND, OR, & NOT) to find information:

Boolean searching is used to show the relationship between words.

 

 

 

Example:

 

'La Tomantina' AND Valencia = results will have everything that has those two words, but not appearing in a resource individually

comida OR alimento = results will include everything that includes the words together or individually in a resource

baile español NOT paso doble + results will include all things about baile español, but will exclude anything about paso doble

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Serendipitous Browsing

 

 

Serendipitous Browsing leads to great finds in the library! You can do this without a computer, just take your self to the circulating collection and look to see what you can find! Use the Library of Congress (LOC) Call Numbers given below to search the Research Services Reference Collection, as well as the circulating collection.

 

Library of Congress Classification System Outline