Tripod is the shared library catalog of Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr, and Haverford Colleges, and it contains information about books, government documents, films, special collections, and much more. 

Start with a keyword search to find books on your topic.  (If you need help deciphering item records, take a look at "Anatomy of a Tripod Record" (pdf).)

When you've located a relevant book, there are several strategies you can use to find additional related works. The first is to consult the book's bibliography; the second is to search by the subject headings you find in the Tripod record. These are near the bottom of the record, and if you click on the links, you'll find other books classified with the same subject heading.  Subject headings can be broad (such as "Human Rights") or more narrow in focus (such as "Human Rights -- Burma -- Religious Aspects").




Books are shelved by the Library of Congress (LC) classification system.  When you've found books in Tripod, write down the entire call number--you'll need it to locate the book on the shelf.   A-G call numbers are on the lower level of McCabe (below the main floor).  H-K call numbers are on Level 2 (one floor up from the main floor) and L-Z call numbers are on Level 3 (two floors up). 

If a book is in Tripod but isn't available at Swarthmore (either because our copy is checked out or because it's held just by Bryn Mawr or Haverford), you can request it by clicking on the orange "request" button in the item record. See the section below about requesting from other libraries for more details.

Although you can search Tripod to find out if we have particular scholarly journals, the catalog doesn't contain information about individual articles within those journals.  To locate articles, use one of our indexes or full-text databases.  The resources below are recommended starting points for your research:

The following subject guides can help you identify other print and electronic resources for finding articles in sociology and anthropology:

Anthropology subject guide
Sociology subject guide
Selected journals in sociology and anthropology

To find documentaries in Tripod, try limiting your search to Videos/DVDs.  You can then search by title (if you have a film in mind), by keyword, by region/country, or by selected genre (documentary films).

Documentary films are on Level 3 of McCabe.  Documentaries are directly across from feature films, and they're shelved by Library of Congress call number, not by title. These films can be checked out of the library, or you can watch in one of the library's screening rooms.

Trico
Request items from Bryn Mawr and Haverford by clicking on the "request" button in Tripod. Use your name and the barcode from the back of your student ID.  Your requested materials will generally arrive at Swarthmore in 1-2 days.

EZ-Borrow
You can also request items from our regional partner libraries using EZ-Borrow. Again, you'll need your 14-digit barcode number to make a request.  These items usually arrive on campus in 3-5 days.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
If you can't get what you need from the Trico or EZ-Borrow libraries, our interlibrary loan specialists can help you--fill out an ILL request form, but keep in mind that these materials could take several weeks to arrive on campus. 

If you're unsure of which service to use, check out this guide to Tri-College Borrowing and Interlibrary Loan.

Reference works like encyclopedias, dictionaries, and bibliographies can provide useful background information--names, dates, key concepts and themes, recommendations for further reading, etc.--on a topic. The print reference collection is on the main floor of McCabe, but we also have an increasing number of electronic reference books that you can access through Tripod.

Consult the Department of Sociology and Anthropology's guidelines (available in print in the department's office) for instructions on proper referencing and the College's statement on academic honesty.

Melanie Maksin, mmaksin1, 690-5786
If you need research assistance, I'm at the reference desk on Tuesdays, 12:30-3 p.m., and on Wednesdays, 7-10 p.m. You can also make an appointment or stop by to meet with me in my office, which is on Level 1 of McCabe.

Looking for more ways to ask a librarian?  Call, email, IM, or come to the McCabe reference desk!