How to Find Books in the Library

Do a title search. Do this if you know the title or author of the book you are looking for. Type the title of the book into the search box. Omit any a’s or the’s at the beginning of the title when you type it into the search box .

NOTE: For example, if the title of the book is “The Fall of the Roman Empire,” then type in “Fall of the Roman Empire.”

Do a subject search. Do this if you do not have a specific book in mind, but you are interested in a particular subject. When searching by subject, use key words to narrow down your search.

NOTE: For example, if you are interested in programming, then type in the search box “C programming,” “Java programming,” or “Linux programming.”

Click on the book’s title. Do this once you have found a book. You will be redirected to a new page that contains specific information about your book, like the book’s status and where it is located.

Write down the book's Dewey ID, Shelf ID and its availability status. These are the three most important pieces of information that you need to write down. This information tells you where the book is located in the library and if it is available.

• For example, write down, location: ParagonIU Library Stacks, Dewey ID: 813.6, Shelf ID: 813.6.hoo and status: available/unavailable.

• If your book is located in the “stacks," then it is a circulating book that can be checked out for a certain period of time like three weeks.

• If your book is in the “reserves,” a reference book, or in the “special collections,” then it can be checked out, however, it cannot be taken outside of the library.

Use the categories and shelf ID to locate the book in the library. Do this if your book is available (not checked out or missing). Identify the categories then find them on the shelf label. The label will tell you which shelf the book is located.

• For example, a book under a category "Language" may be in the shelf label with "Language 808" 

Look at the labels at the end of the bookshelf. Use these labels to locate which bookshelf your book is on. The labels typically contain a range of letters and numbers, for example, 658. Aim to 658. Zen. If your book’s ID falls within the range, contiune to look for book in that shelf.

• For example, if your book’s shelf ID is 658.Imp, then it falls within the range and your book is located on that shelf.

Look at the numbers on the books’ spine. The books are also organized alphabetically, so use the call number to locate the book. The shelf ID is typically located at the bottom of the book’s spine. The book's shelf ID should match the shelf ID in the system identically.

• Since books are organized by topic using the Library of Congress Classification System, try browsing the other books in the section you found your book in if you want more books on your topic.

Ask a staff member. Do this if you cannot find the book, but the system says it is available. The book may be misplaced, or perhaps you are looking in the wrong place. The staff member will go and look for the book for you.

• Tell the staff member, “I went to look for a book in that bookshelf, but I could not find it. The system said it was available, but it was not there when I went to go look for it. Could you check for me?”