When you visit the library in search of a play or works by a specific playwright, you may wonder: where are all the plays? Why aren't they all on the same shelf?
Plays are categorized as the literary form "Drama." As you browse the library's collections you may notice the plays are interspersed within the literature collection on the second floor. The library's classification system collates all forms of literature in order to keep the works of specific authors together under their country of origin. You will find many dramas in this call number range: PG (Russian Literature); PN (General Literature); PQ (French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese Literature); PR (English Literature); PS (American Literature); PT (German, Dutch, Scandinavian, etc.)
For example the works of the American playwright Tennessee Williams are located in the call number range PS3545.I5365:
Whereas the works of the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen are under PT8854:
Call number ranges for other prominent playwrights:
*For a more extensive list of recommended playwrights and their call numbers please see the Recommended Playwrights tab.
Even though, the plays on the library shelves are organized under the genre of "drama" you can still search the library catalog using the term "plays" or "play" IF you know the title contains one or more of those terms OR IF you are doing a keyword search. However, don't limit your search to these terms alone. Otherwise, you may miss out on some potentially useful resources.
For example, you can also narrow your search to a specific type of play by using specific subject terms. Below, is a list of the subject terms to help you find plays that suit your interest. To search in the library catalog, enter any of the subject terms in the search box and select subject in the drop down menu. (See further instructions below in Part 2).
*The subject terms listed above are known as the Library of Congress Subject Headings. They are formal terms assigned to each title in the library. These subject headings tie together items in the catalog that are about the same topics.
