BL: Religions, Mythology

BM: Judaism

BP: Islam

BQ: Buddhism

BR: Christianity

BS: Bible

BT: Doctrinal Theology

BV: Practical Theology

BX: Christian Denominations

We arrange every book on the shelves in the library by subject.  Like other academic libraries, we use the Library of Congress Classification System to assign call numbers to our materials so that materials on similar topics are next to each other on the shelves and patrons and staff can easily find what they need. 

You need to know a book's call number in order to get it off the shelf in the library. CSU, Los Angeles has created a guide that provides a useful introduction to the organizational scheme: 

Understanding Call Numbers 

Encyclopedias, dictionaries and other reference materials also follow the Library of Congress Classification System and can be found in the reference section on the Main Level of the Hammermill Library. 

Not sure where to go? Check out our map of the library:

Map of Hammermill Library

Google Search Basics

Evaluating Sources

Find a book we don't have at Mercyhurst? You can request books and other materials through two document delivery services provided by Hammermill Library.

Interlibrary Loan
Our ILL service allows you to request articles, books, chapters from books, and conference proceedings to request from libraries all over the country. Choose the material you'd like to request, log in using your Name and Mercyhurst ID Number, then fill out the form as completly as possible and click 'Submit This Request'.

*Please check the holdings at Hammermill Library before requesting materials through this service!

You can place a hold on an item that is currently checked out; when it is returned, you will be notified by email.

You can also place a hold on an that's located at the North East Campus' Ridge library and it will be sent to the Hammermill Library for you.

You can also place a hold from home on an item on Hammermill Library's shelf so it doesn't get checked out by anyone else before you get to the library.

To place a hold, find the book in the catalog and click on "Request." You will be prompted to log in with your name and password and from there you can request that the book be sent to whichever campus library you need.

Find the full text of many reference titles and works of literature online, for free!