Book Location Assistance

The unique layout of the NU Main Library can make finding books a bit of a challenge to patrons who are unfamiliar with our stacks. Patrons who are having trouble locating books that NUcat indicates are on the shelf should come to the Circulation desk for assistance.

Monday through Friday between the hours of 9AM and 5PM, Circulation staff members are available to go into the stacks with patrons to help them learn how to navigate the stacks and find the books they need.

During all open hours, Circulation staff are available to double-check call numbers and give tips on finding books that may be somewhere other than where you looked because of a missed detail in the record (see tips below for common mistakes). When a book is truly missing from the shelf, we can mark it to be searched by our staff and held for a particular patron if it is found, but we ask that patrons make such requests in person after looking for the book themselves.

Handouts are also available at the Circulation desk to help patrons find books, including a guide to locations of Main books by call number range, and a map of the Lower Level Storage area (follow the links to access these resources online). There are also stacks guides in and around the elevators, as well as signs with a list of the call number ranges in the individual towers on each floor next to the door to the central stairwell.

TIPS

1. Size Does Matter

Books in the same call number range are shelved separately according to size. Large sized books are identified by a capital letter "L" at the beginning of the call number. The call number ranges on the end of the shelves for large sized books are printed on blue paper; for regular sized books they are printed on white paper.

In the towers, the regular sized books start immediately to the left of the entrance and continue clockwise around the room. Large sized books are immediately to the right when you enter the tower (technically they are are shelved at the end of the regular sized books of the same range).

If you get turned around or confused, it is easiest to find your way by going to the center of the tower. There is also a map of the tower room on the left wall of the entrance next to the outer aisle.

2. Location, Location, Location

NUcat holds the records for all books in the Northwestern University Library system. There are several specialty libraries on both the Evanston and Chicago campuses, and there are separate locations for specialty collections within the same building. Always note the full location when you are writing down a call number; this will help you (and us!) locate the book you need much faster.

Books in the general collection will show the location of "MAIN Library" in NUcat and can be most easily located by consulting the green paper or online stacks guide. Many other books in specialty collections within the Main library building will have the word "Main" in the location code, but if they have any additional qualifiers, they will be in a location separate from the general collection. Some of these collections may be short term or no loan. Major specialty collections within the Main Library building include:

¹The Deering Library is a separate building that is connected to and can only be accessed by entering the Main Library. Other collections housed in the Deering Library include the University Archives, Art Collection, Music Library, and Special Collections.

²Items listed as "LOWER LEVEL Storage (Africana)" or "TRANSPORTATION Library (Lower level storage)" will be in Basement room B249, separate from the Main books (see map of Lower Level).

3. Recently Returned Items

The length of time it takes for a particular item to be reshelved after it has been returned varies depending on a number of factors. If you can't find a book that NUcat lists as "Not checked out" or "Returned on [date] [time]", check the entrance of the room for any book carts that may be waiting to be reshelved. If this doesn't work, check at the Circulation desk to see if it is on a cart that hasn't made it upstairs yet.