How to find books: Finding books via your reading lists

Finding books in the Library

To find a book on the shelf you'll need the floor it's located on and the Call Number. The Call Number gives you the specific location of the book - the numbers indicate the subject of the book and the letters show you which specific place on the shelves to look for it.

1. Note the floor location and the Call Number
2. Find your way to the correct floor and check the floor plan. Most books are in the blue 'Books' section - just make your way to the section containing your number. But if your Call Number has 'Large' at the start, you need to go to the pink 'Large Books' section containing your number instead.
3. Use the signs on the end of the shelves to find your way to the correct section.
4. When you are in the correct section look at the labels on the books until you find your number.
5. Once you've found the correct number, use the letters at the end of the Call Number to find the specific book - they are arranged alphabetically by these letters.

If you can't find your book, please ask a member of staff. We're here to help!

Most books in the Library can be borrowed. You may collect them from the shelves yourself and take them to a Self-Service Point to borrow - don't forget your Campus Card!

Loan allowances

All students may borrow up to 25 items at any one time for up to 6 weeks, subject to recall if someone else needs them.

Returning books

All items should be returned via the Book sorter, beneath the central staircase on the Ground Floor of the Library, or via the external Book Drop located to the right of the Library entrance. 

You might also be given additional recommended books in each lecture. To find these, check the Enterprise catalogue to see if they are available in the Library or online.

Search tip!

To find a specific book search for the author/editor surname and a few words from the title. There is no need to type in your whole reference - you are more likely to find a match if you stick with the basic details. For example, to find this book:

Eysenck, M.A. & Keane, M. (2015) Cognitive psychology: a student's handbook. 7th ed. Psychology Press.

Just type in:

Eysenck cognitive psychology

Although it is not Library practice to purchase texts for each student, we recommend that your tutors request the Library to buy copies as follows: 

• about one copy per 10 students for ‘essential’ reading (one or more of which might be non-loan), and the e-book (where available)
• about one copy per 20 students for ‘recommended’ reading, and the e-book (where available)
• one copy or the e-book of ‘background’ reading

Where there are large numbers of students taking a module, some schools reduce the pressure on reading list material by providing alternative reading, rather than insisting on all students reading the same titles.