UGS 302: The Parthenon through Ages - Prof. Papalexandrou

I. Search the Library Catalog

From the UT Libraries' homepage, click on Books & Media under the main search box. This gets you to the Library Catalog where you can search for books available in print and as eBooks.

Type in your keywords. Anything connected by OR needs to be in parentheses.

II. Refine your Search if Needed

Try different combinations of search terms using AND and OR. Remember that books cover broader subjects than articles so you may need fewer search terms.

Use the facets/limiters on the left side of your results to limit by format (ebook versus print), date, language and more.

III. Understand your Results 

From the list of results, click on the title of a source that looks interesting to get to the full record. 

1.If this book is in print, you will see the name of the library (in this case Fine Arts Library) and call number, or location on the shelf (in this case NB 92 H585 2008). You will need to take a screenshot or picture, or write this information down to find the book.

If it is an eBook, you will see "Available Online" instead and you can click on that to access the book.

2. If the book you want is a physical book, make sure it says Available before the library location so you know it is on the shelf. If it says Not Available - Loan, that means someone else has it checked out. You can still get it if you have some time - see the FAQs below.

IV. Find the Print Book on the Shelf

1. Use the campus library map to find the location of the library that has your book.

2. Once there, use the floor maps and what is called a "stacks guide" (a guide to which call numbers are in which area), to locate your book on the shelf. Links to all of those maps are in the box on the right.

3. Read a call number from top to bottom:

• The first line is letters - N is before NB and NB is before NC
• The second line is a number = read this in chronological order - 92 comes before 93 and before 923
• The third line is both letters and numbers = read the letters in alphabetical order and the numbers as though they are decimals - H585 comes before  K585 and H585 comes before H6 

Note: You can click Pick it Up in the record for the book if you want the book delivered to another campus library or pulled for you and held at the Desk of the library it is already in. it takes a few days and then you'll get an email to pick it up.

V. Check Out your Book(s)

Once you've either grabbed the book from the shelf or gotten an email saying your requested book is ready, check it out with your UT ID card.

I really want this book, but it is checked out. Is there anything I can do?

Yes! If you would like to get a hold of a book that has been checked out, you can request the book. The library will then change the due date so that the current borrower has to return it earlier. To request a book, go to the library catalog, click the pick it up button, log in with your UT EID, and then request the book. You can learn more about this feature here.

Pick it up?

Pick it up is a service that allows you to request your book to be retrieved from the shelf and be delivered to the libray location of your choice. You will receive an email, usually within 1-2 business days, letting you know the book is ready to be picked up. You can learn more about it here.

LIB USE ONLY? 

LIB USE ONLY means library use only. When a book has this label under its current status, you can only access and read the book in the library where it is located. 

I checked out a book, and I am not ready to return it. What can I do?

You can renew it! You can renew your book at any library location or online, through My Accounts. My Accounts can be found on the upper right-hand corner of the screen. If someone requests the book from you, however, you have to return it but may then request it back.

I can't find the book that I need. What can I do?

If the UT Libraries doesn't have a book you need, you can request a scan of up to three chapters through InterLibrary Loan. The service is free and unlimited. Click on the link below to create an account and request a scan. You may also request that we borrow the whole book to check out to you. This takes longer because it has to be sent through the mail and the library that loans it to us sets how long you can have it.