University Library > Guides > How to Find Books

How to Find Books

Table of Contents:

This guide will assist the user in finding materials in University Library collections after determining their locations and call numbers in the Library Catalog. Instructions for using the Catalog may be found in the How to Use the Library Catalog guides. These instructions apply to books and other library materials including: video recordings, DVDs, CDs, tests, government documents and microforms.

Terminology

The "address" where an item is shelved appears at the bottom of its record in the catalog:

find book

LOCATION: The area of the library, or collection, where the item is shelved. Common locations are listed below.

Location Messages & Their Meanings
Message: Meaning:
(Non-Circulating) Item cannot be checked out, so must be used in the library
(Shelved A to Z) Item has no call number; it is shelved alphabetically by title
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CALL NUMBER: The alphanumeric classification by which an item is shelved. Copy the entire call number to take to the location indicated and find the item. In general, following alphabetical and numerical rules from left to right will an item in the designated location. Click on a classification type below to link to off-site information about it.

Examples of Classification Types
Classification Type: Example: How to Read Them
Library of Congress PS3537 .A426 C3 1951 LC Call Number
Superintendent of Documents EP 1.23/6:600/R-95/076 SuDocs Call Number
Wisconsin State Government UWS Bud 1:  
Dewey Decimal® 362.292 Rye Dewey Decimal® Call Number

 

Call Number Messages & Their Meanings
Message: Meaning:
In Process Item received, but not on shelf. Ask at Circulation to be notified when it is available
Copy Ordered as of... / ...On Order / Order Pending Item ordered, but has not been received
Temporarily Shelved at... Item is located where named rather than in area listed on Location line
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STATUS: An indication of an item's availability.

Status Messages & Their Meanings
Message: Meaning:
Checked Out Item is checked out. Request a Hold or request a copy via Universal Borrowing from another UW system library
In Process Item has been received at the library. Contact Circulation with the title and call number to be notified when it is available
Lost / Missing... Item is missing. Request a copy via Universal Borrowing from another UW system library or Interlibrary Loan from any other library
No Item Data Available Click on article title in Result list for more information
Not Checked Out Item should be in the library in the Location indicated unless there is a note stating otherwise
Overdue - Due on ... Item has not been returned on time. Contact Circulation with the title and call number to recall the item or be notified when it is available
Renewed - Due on... Item is checked out. Contact Circulation with the title and call number to recall item or be notified when it is available
Returned ... Item is available. If it is not on the shelf, ask at Circulation to see if it is waiting to be reshelved
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Finding an Item on the Shelf

Most books are shelved alphabetically/numerically by call number in each collection location. For example, the Main and Reference Collections have Library of Congress (LC) call numbers, starting with call numbers in the As and ending with call numbers in the Zs.  Materials in other locations may use difference systems of classification.

In LC call numbers, the number following the letter in the third or fourth line is a decimal number. The decimal sign may or may not appear on the book label.

LC Call Numbers Arranged in Shelf Order
P
582
A1W6		 PE
350
A3X		 PE
350
A35		 PR
350
D47		 PR
350
D5		 PS
351
A3		 PS
351
.15
A3		 PS
351
.3
S7		 PS
351
.3
.S7
1988

Some books are shelved alphabetically by the author's last name, such as those in the McNaughton, Juvenile Fiction and Easy Books collections.

Periodicals are shelved alphabetically by title, instead of by call number or last name, in each collection location. Refer to How to Find Journal Articles for further assistance.

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If an Item is Not on the Shelf

  1. Look for it on nearby shelves.
  2. Look to see if it was left on a nearby table or by the copy machines.
  3. Recheck the catalog to confirm the call number, location and status.  If the item was recently returned, check at the Circulation Desk to see if it is waiting to be reshelved.
  4. Ask a Circulation Desk attendant to arrange for a staff search and for notification when it is found.

Checking Out Materials

Take materials to the Circulation Desk on the Second Floor, near the entry doors, to be checked out. Present your valid UW-Whitewater ID or Community Borrower's Card to the attendant along with the materials. The attendant will check each item out, desensitize it so it may be carried through the security gate, and tell you when it is due.

The library no longer issues date-due slips, so check your Personal Record in the Catalog to see when materials are due. Many items may be renewed from this screen. Please return items to the library by the due date to avoid fines.

Note: Some materials, such as those on microform or from the Reference Collection, are not available for check out. 

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Reserve Materials

Materials placed on reserve are normally located in the Catalog by clicking on the Course Reserve tab and selecting the instructor's name.  However, you may also find them doing other types of searches in the Catalog. 

If the Location entry has the word Reserve in it, a faculty member has set the item aside for very short-term use. Write down the author name, title and call number. Present this information and your ID card to a Circulation attendant, who will retrieve it for you. Large fines are levied if materials are returned after their due hour.

Some reserve materials have been digitally copied and placed on Electronic Reserve (eReserve). These materials are accessible both on and off-campus by students, faculty and staff of the UW-Whitewater UW-W users only. They do not need to be checked out, as they can be viewed online. These materials have *Internet for the Location and an E-Items field containing one or more links.

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Locations

The following entries represent some of the collections in the Library. If the catalog indicates a desired book is in a location not on this list, ask for help at the Reference Desk. See library floor plan for a map.

Library Locations
Location: Place in the Library:
Arts Media Center Greenhill Center of the Arts, Room 16 (lower level). One block west of the Library
Bound Periodicals First Floor
Center... Media Center. First Floor, southeast corner. After the word "Center" is the name of the stacks where the item is located, for example, Center Videorecordings
Current Affairs Shelf Second Floor, west of the Reference Desk
Current Periodicals First Floor, north end. Shelved by alphabetically by title
Curriculum Collection Second Floor, east end, last row of book by the windows
Documents Office Ask for assistance at Reference Desk
Documents Oversize Second Floor, south. These are shelved after all other U.S. documents in stack 40
International Documents... Second Floor, east of Reference Desk
Internet Item is accessible via a link in the Linked Resources or E-Items field
Main Collection Third Floor, stacks 1-143
Main Oversize Collection Third Floor, stacks 144-153
Map Room Second Floor, north. Enter through Reference Microform Room>
McNaughton Collection Second Floor, west end, near Circulation Desk. Popular reading
New Book Island Second Floor, west end, south of McNaughton Collection
Periodicals Microform Room... First Floor, glass walled room on east side
Newspaper Current First Floor, northeast corner
Ref Tests Collection Second Floor, south of Reference Desk
Reference CD-ROM Second Floor, alcove north of Reference Desk, ask for assistance
Reference Collection Second Floor, short stacks
Reference Microform Room Second Floor, north of Government Documents
Reference Collection Second Floor, Reference room, short stacks
Reference Microforms Room Second Floor, northeast end, contains Pamphlet File and microfiche U.S. documents
Reference Pamphlets Second Floor, Reference Microforms Room, south wall
Reference Tests Collection Second Floor, Reference room, east of Reference Desk
Reserve Second Floor, Circulation/Reserve Desk
Special Collection Second Floor, inquire at Reference Desk for assistance
Storage Inquire at Circulation Desk (Second Floor) for assistance
Temporarily Shelved at... Indicates item's current location
U.S. Documents CD-ROM Ask at Reference Desk (Second Floor) for assistance
U.S. Documents Stacks Second Floor, east of Reference Desk, a.k.a. Federal Documents. Note: Unlike other locations, call numbers for U.S. documents do not contain decimal numbers
Wisconsin Documents Second Floor, east of Reference Desk
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For assistance, contact a reference librarian at (262) 472-1032, by email or chat or in person at the Library's Reference Desk.

Last Revised: MS - 10/25/2007