The Library's "How Do I Find...?" page offers a number of guides to help you locate a wide variety of materials. This page gives the basics for locating books and journals.

Search the Library's catalog .
This resource is freely available to anyone over the internet. Records are included for all the book titles and periodical titles that the library owns. If the item you need is charged to another user, you should request that the item be recalled for your use. The catalog does not include records for individual journal articles; to identify these you need to check an indexing service, many of which are now available electronically.

Electronic Resources
The Library has a searchable and browsable Database Finder that includes descriptions of most of the major resources. In most cases, the Library has added hypertext links to these titles in the online catalog record as well. The Library also has an AtoZ list of electronic journal titles accessible to the UofC community. Pressing the button activates an electronic tool that links records from one vendor's indexing database to other resources such as the full text of the article offered by another publisher and to the record for the journal title in the library's catalog. More information is available about . Most of the Subject Guides include links to the major electronic sources for the subject.

Call Numbers and Locations
For materials housed in the library, you need to note the call number and location information contained in the library's catalog record in order to be able to retrieve the item from the shelves. The call numbers are derived from the Library of Congress Classification System. Pay close attention to this information for journals since they often shelve in at least two different locations--when they first arrive they go to unbound periodical shelves. Once they are bound, they locate by call number in bookstacks or possibly in reading rooms. Each campus library has a detailed call number and location guide. The call number guide for Regenstein is posted on every floor across from the bookstacks elevator.

When You Cannot Find the Book on the Shelf
If you cannot find an item for which the catalog record reads "Not Charged," you can submit a Search request and Library staff will try to locate the item for you. You can do this by pressing the "not on shelf" link in the catalog record for the item and completing the form. You can also complete a paper form in person at any circulation counter. Searches normally take anywhere from 1-5 working days. You will be notified when the item is found or a search is completed. If the item is found, it will be held at the circulation counter. If it is not found, it will be listed as "missing" and you can submit an interlibrary loan request for the item. The Library's web pages include additional information about Circulation Services.

InterLibrary Loan (ILL)
For materials not owned by the Library, you can request Interlibrary Loan (ILL) which the Library offers as a free service. It might take a couple of weeks to obtain materials through ILL. When journal articles are sent electronically, they often arrive quickly and you will receive email with instructions on how to access them. Some databases provide ILL request options online, most notably Worldcat on FirstSearch, which is the largest bibliographic database in the world and includes millions of records for books and other materials.

Visiting Other Libraries
If an item is not available in the Library or electronically and you cannot wait for inter-library loan, an option might be to visit another area library that owns the item. You can determine what libraries own items by searching WorldCat on FirstSearch but this database does not include circulation information nor the dates of periodical titles owned. You would need to telephone the reference department of the Library you wish to visit to obtain these details, as well as information regarding access and hours. If you need assistance in making these arrangements, please consult with one of the UofC Library's reference departments.

Recommend a Library Purchase
You can request that the Library purchase an item for addition to the collections. Purchase Request forms are available on the web. Please keep in mind that materials frequently go out-of-print so purchases are most successful for recently published titles. For expensive items or ongoing commitments of funds, it is often helpful to discuss the purchase request in person with the appropriate subject bibliographer.

Ask For Assistance
If you have trouble at any point in identifying or locating materials, always ask for help from one of the Library's reference departments or the appropriate bibliographer. The staff is here to assist you.