What is the author of the book in the library of congress on the shelf directly after capitalism,the unknown ideal?
a) barukh rand
b) ayn rand
c) ranciere, jacques
Rapport,leon

Do you know who the author of "Capitalism, the Unknown Ideal" is? You can Google it and find out. The author of the next book on the shelf in the library could be the same person, or maybe someone else with the same last name or one that is alphabetically very close.

According to the Library of Congress database this is a non-fiction book, so after the call number will appear the letters of the author's last name (HB 501 RAND). This is her only book of essays, so she has no more books in HB 501.

Which one of your choices makes the most sense to be the next book on the shelf?

Barukh rand?

Yes. Very good.

Why not ranciere or rapport?

They both start with the last name and letter r

Noooooooooo. Put these in ABC order.

Rapport, leon
Rand, barukh
Rand, ayn
Ranciere, jacques

HB501 is a section for books on economic theory, particularly capitalism. Look up Barukh Rand and you'll see that's not what he's into, so his book is not next.

By the way - the 4th author on your list I believe should be "Rappaport, Leon"

This question took more thought than I gave it credit for. Thanks, ebaines.

This question took more thought than I gave it credit for. Thanks, ebaines.

Thanks to your hint earlier I was able to find the list of books in with LC classification HB501 on the LoC web site, and wouldn't you know - Ayn Rand's book is cataloged as HB501.r25, and the next in that section has classification HB501.r27 and it's by one of these other guys.

This seems like it's a super sleuth question - I feel a bit like Katharine Hepburn in "Desk Set"!

It seems a bit beyond the lit class level and more of a cataloging question for library grad students.