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Step 1
Understand that the topic that you are researching and the LCSH that apply to this topic may not be common or “natural language” terms. Usage of the wrong LCSH may limit a user’s ability to effectively find the information he is searching for.
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Step 2
Understand what LCSH are and how to use them. Subject heading classification is a process by which library professionals apply topic descriptions to items in their collections. While each library may choose to classify its own materials whatever way it wishes, the Library of Congress had developed a system that is available to everyone. It presents a uniform, agreed upon standard for all libraries to use. Hence, any library in the world using the same search strategy can retrieve the same, or the same types of items, if LCSH have been properly assigned.
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Step 3
Know where to find a listing of LCSH. The Library of Congress publishes their the Subject Headings in five (at last count) large, red volumes. They are usually displayed in the Reference section of the library. They can also be searched online at the Library of Congress Authorities site
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Step 4
Find the appropriate LCSH for your topic of interest. Generally, the easiest way to do this is by doing a ‘keyword’ search. Look at the items that come up in the ‘keyword’ search, evaluate their contents and their relevance to the topic you wish to learn more about. After locating a few relevant items, make note of the LCSH these items were assigned.
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Step 5
Use the assigned LCSH of the above mentioned in future search queries to find more items like the ones previously found.
