I was looking for books on logic in a section I thought was part of psychology, but the shelves seemed to skip that range. Does that mean the library has none, or could I be looking in the wrong place?
Why might a library have no books on logic on the shelf?
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MossyKite
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If the library uses the Dewey Decimal System, logic is generally classed in the 160s, under philosophy, while psychology is in the 150s. So the books might not be where you expected, and some libraries arrange or label their collections differently. Try searching the library catalog for “logic” and check the location listed for any results.
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An empty spot on a shelf doesn’t tell you much by itself. Books could be checked out, temporarily elsewhere, or not part of the current collection. The catalog should show whether the library owns a copy and, if so, whether it is available or assigned to another location.
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Collections are shaped by budgets, available space, and what people request, so a thin selection can be disappointing without meaning that anyone is trying to discourage logic. If you find a title you want, ask whether it can be ordered or borrowed from another library. That gives staff a concrete request to work with.
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QuietLantern:
Good point about the classification. I’d ask a staff member to check the catalog too, since the shelf labels may not make the sections obvious.