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University of Texas University of Texas Libraries

Find Books

This guide will teach you how to find books in the UT libraries.

Find Books in the UT Libraries

Looking for a book?

Search for a Book

From the UT Libraries' homepagetype the book title you are searching for in the search box. You'll find results across many different library resources.

homepage search box

When your results load, select "Library Catalog" from the dropdown arrow to narrow your results to include books and media

Understanding your Results 

After searching, you need to look for four details:

Catalog record with details numbered

1. Is this book in print or is it electronic (an ebook that you can access online)?

2. If the book you want is a physical book, log into your account and look for the pick it up button. 

Location of the Pick it up button, under "get it" after you log in to your account.

3. Is the book AVAILABLE? If not, there will be a due date. Click the Pick it Up Button to request it and select the library location where you'd like to pick it up. Keep in mind that it will take several days for the current borrower to return it. Wait for an email telling you your books are ready before you come get them!

4. Are you ready to check out? Either get the book off the shelf yourself, or click the Pick it Up button and a library staff member will get the book and bring it to the library location you selected to pick it up. Wait for an email telling you your books are ready before you come get them! It will take 1-2 business days.

 

Checking out Books

Wait for an email telling you your books are ready before you come to the library location your chose to pick them up. Bring your UT ID. 

Search for ebooks

Not all of our books are available online as ebooks. Here is how to limit your search to only books available online.

These screenshots (you can open them in a new tab to enlarge) lead you from www.lib.utexas.edu

Step 1:

Use the Books and Media link under the search bar on www.lib.utexas.edu

 

Step 2:

On the next screen, enter your search terms.

 

Step 3:

oN the left side, you can limit to items available online

 

Step 4:

Under each result, there is a link Available Online. Click that.

Step 5:

every publisher link is differently named once you are in the full record

FAQs

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 library location you choose. It will take an estimated 1-2 business days for your book to be retrieved. You can learn more about the service here.

 

Need a more advanced search?

 

If you need more options to search, you can click on the Books & Media link, located under the search box on the UT libraries' homepage.  This will take you to the catalog and you can choose Advanced Search.

Books & Media catalog link

 

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.

 

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 either a scan of up to three chapters or the entire book through Interlibrary Services. If you are requesting a scan, you'll receive an email when the pdf is ready. If you are requesting the loan of an entire book, you'll receive an email when you can come pick it up. Because they are sent through the mail, it typically takes longer than requesting a scan. Interlibrary Services are free and unlimited. Click on the link below to create an account and request a scan of a chapter or the loan of a book.

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