How to Find a Book

Using NUcat, the online catalog, to look up or identify a book
Physically locating a book on the shelf
If you cannot find a book on the shelf
Accessing books in electronic format
Checking out and renewing a book
If a book is not owned by Northwestern

The library collections of Northwestern University are located in the Main Library and in
several branch and affiliated libraries. This guide explains how to find a book in the Northwestern
University Library system.

Using NUcat, the online catalog, to look up or identify a book

For more information about how to search the catalog, the NUcat Help Pages can be useful.
You can also get assistance from the Reference Department.

Physically locating a book on the shelf

When you have identified the book you want from NUcat, note its Location and Call Number.
For instance, the book below is located in the Main Library with the Call Number 302 H2357.

MAIN Library as a location

Main Library refers to the research towers on floors 3, 4 and 5 in the main library, as well as the
lower level, which contain books in the social sciences, humanities, and business.

Check the Book Location Guide: Location of Books in the Main Research Towers to determine the
location of an item in the main library. This guide is also available at all service desks in the library.
For example, the book above would be located on 3 North (third floor, north tower).

Call numbers beginning with L are large-sized books and are shelved to the right of the
entrance in each research tower.

Call numbers beginning with F represent folios, or oversized books, and must be requested at the
main library Circulation Desk .

Other locations for separate collections within the Main Library and Deering Library

Transportation Library 5 th Floor, North Tower, Main Library
Africana 5 th Floor, East Tower, Main Library
Core Collection / Reserve Room 2 nd Floor, North Tower, Main Library
Mitchell Multimedia Center, 2 nd Floor, South Tower, Main Library
Government Publications and Maps, 1 st Floor, Main Library
Reference Department, 1 st Floor, Main Library
University Archives, 1 st Floor, Deering Library
Music Library, 2 nd Floor, Deering Library
Special Collections, 3 rd Floor, Deering Library

Other locations outside of Main and Deering

Science and Engineering Library, Evanston Campus
Mathematics Library, Evanston Campus
Geology Library, Evanston Campus
United Library, Evanston Campus
Schaffner Library, Chicago Campus
Law Library (Pritzker Legal Research Center), Chicago Campus
Galter Health Sciences Library, Chicago Campus

If you cannot find a book on the shelf

If you cannot find the book on the shelf, ask for assistance at the Circulation Desk. If a book
is charged out to someone else, it can be recalled at the Circulation Desk or at:
http://www.library.northwestern.edu/circulation/forms/recall.html. If a book is temporarily off the
shelf, you may request that it be searched for you. In either case, you will be notified when
the book becomes available.

Accessing books in electronic format or e-books

The Library owns a growing collection of electronic books. To view the full contents of the book,
click on the title, then click on the hyperlink to the book within the bibliographic record.

You must be a current NU student, faculty or staff member to view the contents of the electronic
book. If you are a current NU affiliate and are off-campus or your computer is not connected to
the Northwestern network (NUnet), you may use EZ Proxy at
http://www.library.northwestern.edu/help/proxy/index.html or the Virtual Private Network
(VPN) client at http://www.tss.northwestern.edu/vpn/ to authenticate yourself. Both methods
require login with a Northwestern NetID and password .

Checking out and renewing a book

You may check out books from the main library's research towers on the first level at the
Circulation Desk. In addition, there are two self-service checkout stations adjacent to the circulation desk
and in the link area on levels three, four and five. Your Northwestern WildCARD serves as your library card.
You may renew books in person at the Circulation Desk or online at
/circulation/forms/index.html

If a book is not owned by Northwestern University Libraries

Books or periodicals not owned by Northwestern can usually be borrowed from other libraries
by the Interlibrary Loan Department which is located on the first level of the main library. You
can submit an Interlibrary Loan request in person or by filling out an online form found on Main
Library Interlibrary Loan Department's website at http://www.library.northwestern.edu/ill/index.html.

You may also request that items from NU's Chicago campus be brought to Evanston , and
vice versa. Online Circulation request forms are available at:
http://www.library.northwestern.edu/circulation/callslip.html

To search for books at other libraries outside of Northwestern University , look under
"Catalogs from other libraries" on the library web site at:
http://www.library.northwestern.edu/catalogs/index.html