The tips below can be used in book catalogs,databases and, to a certain extent, with search engines such as Google.
Keyword Search
You can use these tips in a keyword search-
With keyword you can search for simply theatre
Expand your results by using OR -- (theater OR theatre OR drama) OR= more results
You can use an * to retrieve multiple variants of a word with one efficient search. Example: fantast* retrieves results with fantasy, fantistic, fantastical, fantastik
Subject Search
Requires specific Library of Congress (LC) Subject Headings. The words have to be typed in the exact order used by Library of Congress. You cannot use AND or OR.
Examples of relevant Library of Congress Subject Headings
Acting -- History
American Drama--20th Century --History and criticism
Drama -- History and criticism [literary criticism]
Drama -- Technique
Dramatic criticism [theatre criticism]
Dramatists, American --20th Century --Interviews
Latin drama -- History and criticism
Musicals--New York (State)--New York--Dictionaries
Theater -- History
Books with call numbers starting with the letter P are shelved on the 5th floor.
Theatre
PN2000-3307
Drama (i.e., literature)
PN1600-1988
American drama
PS330-353 (general works about)
PS623-635 (drama anthologies)
British drama
PR621-739 (general works about)
PR1241-1273 (drama anthologies)
Ancient Greek literature
PA3051-4500
Latin Drama (Roman)
PA6069
Individual plays are shelved in the collection based on the author's nationality. For example:
PL = Japanese literature
PQ = Italian literature
PR = British literature
PS = American literature
PT = German literature
If you know the author's name, then conduct an AUTHOR search in the library catalog to determine the call number for each individual play. Or, instead, conduct a TITLE search using the title of the play.