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African, Jewish, and Middle Eastern Studies: Digital Resources at the Library of Congress

Tips for Searching

There are several ways to search for resources available at the Library of Congress. The Library of Congress Online Catalog provides searchable access to the vast and diverse collections available onsite at the Library. For archival collections, Finding Aids provide detailed descriptions of individual manuscript items in larger collections. Digital collections and resources on the Library's website can be searched using the search box available in the header area of all Library of Congress webpages.

Searching the Library of Congress Online Catalog

Image of the LC Online Catalog Homepage

The Library of Congress Online Catalog is a great place to begin your research since it provides bibliographic descriptions for the vast majority of collection items available at the Library.

Types of Searches

  • Browse
    Use this search to find titles, authors/creators, subjects, call numbers, or standard numbers.
  • Advanced Search
    Use this search for a guided approach to building a more complex search combinging names, titles, subjects, and keywords as needed.
  • Keyword Search
    Use this search for a "one box" approach to find words and phrases anywhere in the catalog record or in title, author, or subject fields.

Using Search Limits

All searches can be narrowed down by adding filters to your search using the "Add Limits" button. Limit searches with the following options:

  • Years of Publication
  • Place of Publication
  • Location in the Library
  • Type of Material
  • Language

Pro Tips: Foreign Language Script Searching in the Online Catalog

Pro Tips for Foreign Language Script Searching in the Online Catalog

You may search in foreign language script in any of the search boxes.  Many of the titles and author names have foreign language script in the catalog records and will be retrieved in searches on those fields. For example:

Raʼs al-māl al-fikrī al-ʻArabī : naḥwa ruʼyah istiratījīyah jadīdah lil-istithmār wa-al-taṭwīr.

رأس المال الفكري العربي : نحو رؤية استراتيجية جديدة للاستثمار والتطوير

You may also use the Language limit and select Arabic.  Your search terms will retrieve materials that are written in the Arabic language. Please see this example here.