Research 101: Books

To find books in our library, search the Library Catalog - you can also search directly via  the search box on the library's homepage. Use our guide to finding books for more on how to use the online catalog and find books on the shelves.

When you find books that look useful, write down the Collection & the Call Number. 

General Collection, call numbers A - PQ  are on the Third Floor 

General Collection, call numbers PR - Z are on the Second (Main) Floor

Oversize are on the Third Floor, Beck Hall side

Reference are on the Second (Main) Floor, Beck Hall side

Browsing are on the Second (Main) Floor near the entrance

Young Adult & Children's Books are on the First Floor 

AV materials (DVDs, etc) are on the First Floor

Once you are in the right area, signs on the sides of the shelves will direct you further. The system is a little tricky to figure out at first, so don't hesitate to ask for directions at the Information Desk (main floor of the library).

Browse the shelves when you find a useful book. Books are shelved according to topic, so chances are you'll find other relevant books nearby. You can check books and other materials out at the Information Desk. This page has information about loan periods, renewals, etc. 

Serendipity plays a big role in research. When looking for books, start by searching the catalog. Once you find a book that looks promising, browse the nearby books. Our library uses the Library of Congress system, which houses books on the same topic near each other. 

Some topics are more easily browsed than others. For example, books by and about a particular writer are shelved together, but books on interdisciplinary subjects, such as environmental science, may be in several places. 

Sometimes people shy away from books because they are longer to read than a journal article. Many disciplines still publish current research in books, so you don't want to miss out on key resources by ignoring books. There are some tricks you can use to understand a book's structure and argument, so you DON'T have to read the whole thing.

• Browse the table of contents 
• Read the book's introduction/first chapter AND conclusion/last chapter - these present and highlight the main arguments
• The end of chapter one will often provide a roadmap for the rest of the book
• Skim chapter headings
• Browse the index to look at the topics discussed

Once you have a good idea of the book's structure and argument through skimming, you can narrow in on the portions of the text most useful for your research.

You can also search for books in other libraries, expanding your research options. Books will be sent to you (for free!). To do this, use the advanced search in the library catalog. Scroll down to select "Libraries WorldWide." 

• Once you find a book you want, click the title.
• On the next screen, click "Request from Another Library" under the Access Options box.
• Follow the prompts to log in with your Gustavus user name and password.
• You will get an email once the book arrives; pick it up at the Information Desk of the library.
• The Tracking Down Materials tab has more information on requesting materials from other libraries.
• Libraries are not usually allowed to lend ebooks via interlibrary loan. Search for a print copy to request or talk to a librarian about your options.

We have a growing number of ebooks in our collections. You'll find some just through searching the library catalog. Others can be access through some of the resources listed below. Libraries are not allowed to lend ebooks via interlibrary loan; if you find an ebook listed at a separate library, chances are you won't be able to request it via interlibrary loan. Contact a librarian if you find a title you'd like to access, as we can help you request a print copy of the same title.

The Gustavus Library is committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all our patrons. We acknowledge that harmful and outdated language or terminology exists in catalog records for our materials, though, and we would welcome your help in identifying such instances.

If you encounter any language that you consider to be harmful or offensive to yourself or others, please use this form to report it and suggest alternative language. We will contact the Library of Congress to request that changes be made whenever we come across items under their purview and will supplement our own descriptions with more respectful terms as necessary. We also direct you to our entire Harmful Language Statement for more information.