When we think of libraries, we often think of books; printed publications which consist of bound pages and a cover. Scholarly print books can typically be categorised as either Monographs or Textbooks.
Monographs focus on a single topic or subject in-depth. They are scholarly works written by an author or a small group of authors and provide a comprehensive examination of a particular subject area. Monographs often present original research, analysis, or critical evaluations and are intended for a specialized audience, such as researchers, academics, or professionals within a specific field.
Textbooks, on the other hand, are print books designed specifically for educational purposes. They are created to support the learning and instruction of a particular subject or course. Textbooks generally follow a structured curriculum and provide explanations, examples, exercises, and other educational resources to facilitate the comprehension and study of a subject. They are commonly used in academic settings, such as schools, colleges, and universities, to aid students in their learning process.
Print books in libraries are organized on shelves using the Dewey Decimal System, a classification system that categorizes books by subject. Each book is assigned a specific number, known as a class mark, based on its subject matter. Books with the same number are further arranged alphabetically by the author's last name. To facilitate easy identification, each book is labelled on its spine with its Dewey Decimal number and the first three letters of the author's last name (e.g., 325.2305 SMI).
Before attempting to find a book on the shelf, you should search for it in Discovery. You can do this simply by typing the book title, author, or ISBN into the search bar. If you’d like to browse a section of the library for books on a particular topic, you should conduct a keyword search in Discovery. This can be achieved by identifying a word (e.g., marketing) which relates to the topic of the books you would like to find. This will help you identify where books on this topic are shelved.
It’s really frustrating to come all the way to the library, only to find the book you wanted has been checked out by someone else. Before looking for a book on the shelf, you should confirm that it is stocked in the library and available. Find the correct title on the Discovery result page and look for the green tick.
If the book record displays a red stop sign, the item is not currently available. In this instance, you may wish to place a reservation on the item. If you can’t find the book you’re looking for, it might not be in stock. In this instance, you may wish to submit a resource request for the item.
Having established that the book is in stock and available, you now need to identify where in the library it's located. First, identify the shelving location, indicated below. Most items will be shelved in the Main Book Area, but some titles may be in the Postgraduate Study Room, PC Suite, or On Display.
Next, identify the book’s call number, indicated below. This is a combination of numbers and letters which signify topic and the first three letters of the author’s last name. Make a note of this – you'll need it later!
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3-Week Loan GREEN LABEL |
3-week loan items are indicated by a green spine label; the loan type is also specified on the first page after the front cover. 3-week loan items are issued for three weeks. All 3-week loan items renew automatically for up to one year unless they are reserved by another user. |
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1-Week Loan YELLOW LABEL |
1-week loan items are indicated by a yellow spine label; the loan type is also specified on the first page after the front cover. 1-week loan items are issued for one week. All 1-week loans renew automatically for up to one year unless they are reserved by another user. |
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24-Hour Loan BLUE LABEL |
24-Hour Loan items are indicated by a blue spine label; the loan type is also specified on the first page after the front cover. 24-Hour Loan items are issued for 1 day. 24-Hour Loan items can only be renewed once.
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Reference Only RED LABEL |
Reference items are indicated by a red spine label; the loan type is also specified on the first page after the front cover. Reference Only items are not available for loan; they are to be used exclusively in the library building. Photocopies and scans can be taken in accordance with copyright legislation. |