InfoGuides: LGBTQ+ Studies: Find Books

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E-Books

Global Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) History
". . .provide a global view of the history of LGBTQ, covering significant figures and events worldwide."
Encyclopedia of Lesbian and Gay Histories and Cultures
Beginning in 1869, when the study of homosexuality can be said to have begun with the establishment of sexology, this Encyclopedia offers accounts of the most important international developments in an area that now occupies a critical place in many fields of academic endeavours. While gays and lesbians have shared many aspects of life, their histories and cultures developed in profoundly different ways.

Routledge Handbooks Online This link opens in a new window
Provides overviews of classic, current research and future trends in the social sciences and humanities; as well as guides to theory and method, key sub-disciplines, and the primary debates of today. Full-text access to peer-reviewed content available for the subject collections in criminal justice & criminology, politics, and security studies.
Ebook Central This link opens in a new window
Access multi-disciplinary scholarly content from hundreds of publishers. Discover, evaluate, and access titles; and utilize tools for note-taking, highlighting, and instant citing. Read online and check individual entries for offline reading options including DRM-free chapter downloads and full book downloads. Note: Merges EBL Ebook Library and ebrary Academic Complete. Mason login required.
Tutorial for the eBook Central database.
Ebsco eBook Collection This link opens in a new window
Includes several thousand electronic books, or eBooks on a variety of subjects, including public access books. Please note some eBooks are only available to a single user or one-user at a time. If using a Mac, use the Safari browser for best results.
View a tutorial on this database here.

Call Numbers for LGBTQ+ Studies Books

At Mason libraries, we use the Library of Congress Classification (LCC) and the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) to classify and describe materials. These systems are over 100 years old, and although constantly changing are still reflective of the white, male, cisgendered, heterosexual bias of their conception. Librarians at Mason are working to change harmful subject headings in the catalog. If you have suggestions for how language might be improved, please use this form.

Print resources for LGBTQ+ Studies are located primarily in the Fenwick Library. Audiovisual materials are also located in the Fenwick Library.

Here are some call numbers for LGBTQ+ Studies topics:

HQ 74 - 74.2 Bisexuality
HQ 75 - 76.8 Homosexuality. Lesbianism
HQ 77.7 - 77.95 Transsexualism (includes transgender)
HV 1449 Gay men. Lesbians

LGBTQ+ Studies related topics may be outside of these call numbers. For example:

PS 153.G38 A25 2013 is the call number for the anthology 1960s Gay Pulp Fiction: The Misplaced Heritage, which is shelved in the American Literature section at Fenwick Library.

To locate LGBTQ+ books in related areas:

Try a keyword search that combines LGBTQ+ Studies topics with those other subject areas, such as

"lesbian" AND "literature"

"LGBTQ" AND "legal"

"transgender" AND "mental health"

Many library cataloging systems, including the Library of Congress, may still use outdated terms, so consider those also if you don't find what you need. Resources for possible terms used include the Homosaurus or The Secular Librarian. Please note that some of the terms included are considered incorrect, outdated, or harmful.