We organize books at the Library using the Dewey Decimal System. Each has a number from '000' to '999' depending on its subject and three letters from the start of an author's surname. Together these are called shelfmarks and are found on the edge of a book. As well as your resource lists, you can use UR Library Search to find the books you need. This will give you its shelfmark, and where you can find it on our shelves.
Note: scroll to the bottom of this FAQ for a short video tutorial entitled "How To Find a Book on the Shelf".
1. On the Library Home Page, there's a search box with three tabs. First, select 'Books & eBooks' and type in the title of the book you're looking for. Then, press the 'Search' button.
2. You'll now see a page of results. You can read some information on the books from the results page, and more details on each by clicking on their titles. Make a note of the title, shelfmark and which floor of the Library it's on. All three are needed to find a book.
3. Next, check our shelves. Each one has a sign at the end, showing what's on each shelf and the range of shelfmarks it holds.
Bear in mind, reference books are copies of books that can't be borrowed but can be used inside the Library. They have an extra sticker just above the shelfmark indicating they're reference books.
If you'd like some more information on finding books, check out our FAQs How many items can I borrow/take out? and How do I use the self-issue machine? or ask a Library staff member.