The Joy of Browsing

The recent renovation and renaming of the Charles H. Trout Library at Harcum College created a comfortable, inviting, and practical new space that is being avidly used by Harcum students, faculty, and staff. Most days the library is filled with patrons studying in groups and singly, using the library computers, reading newspapers or journals, requesting copies of textbooks, printing, copying, or meeting in the new Tech Labs. However, it may not be immediately obvious that as part of the renovation, the library’s collection of books and DVDs that are available for borrowing was greatly enhanced and upgraded. The titles chosen by the library staff in consultation with faculty and other expert sources are ready and waiting to be explored, discovered, and used by the Harcum community. One time-honored way to put the collection to use is through the enjoyable and often surprising pursuit of browsing, which can be done onsite with a little guidance or remotely through the library catalog.

Some library usage is very straightforward. If you already know the name of an author, the title of a book, or a very specific subject that interests you, you use the library’s online catalog, find one or two books, see if they’re available, and if all goes well you borrow them.

There’s another way to find books that may provide enjoyment, inspiration, or knowledge that can take you beyond what you’re already aware of through other sources. Just single out a general topic of interest to you and, using your knowledge of the library’s numbering system (Dewey), head straight for the shelves to browse and delve into the books on offer there. You can talk to library staff or use the online catalog to identify the best Dewey number range for your topic. Once in the stacks (the second floor of the library, where most circulating books are kept) you can spot new acquisitions being prominently displayed, scan titles, open the books that intrigue you, and get a closer look.

Browsing in this way can lead to discoveries both surprising and delightful as you find that there are authors who have taken an approach to your subject that is unexpected, for example looking at the topic from historical, cross-cultural or speculative perspectives or through a lens of unique personal experiences. Here are some other tips for promising ways to browse in person or online:

There are two display areas in the library to highlight intriguing new titles. One is just inside the entrance to your right, alongside the current periodicals. The other is at the top of the library stairs.
Next to the new acquisitions on the second floor are two small, distinctive, and very browsing friendly collections. In fact, one of them is officially named “The Browsing Collection.” It contains mostly popular fiction for recreational reading, in alphabetical order by author.
The other small collection, “The Reading Collection,” is specially designed to contain material of interest to students who are working to improve their reading skills. It is also mostly fiction in alphabetical order by author and the titles in this collection hold special interest, appeal, and usefulness to young adults.
It’s possible to experience “virtual browsing” by doing a search in the library’s online catalog, EDITH. All you need is the Dewey Decimal call number of a book on your topic of interest. You’ll find the call number on the spine. You are then ready to see titles with similar numbers and similar subjects in the order that they sit on our shelves. Click on Power Search under the search box and then choose Browse (under the Catalog Search menu to the right of the screen). Next choose Call_Number under the new menu option and type in the Dewey number (or the first line of the number) into the call number field to get a list of titles.
Another way to explore the Charles H. Trout library book holdings is by using the Research Guides. Click on the link on our web page to see a list of topics. There is a guide for each academic program and other special topics as well, including faculty development.
Look below for a sampling of interesting books of wide appeal.
Happy browsing and be sure to speak to a librarian for guidance or suggestions!

See more from the collections>>
See library hours and other topics at harcum.edu/library.

By: Mimi Burstein, Circulation/Reserve Coordinator