Library and Internet Skills

Table of Contents

Look at the bottom half of the screen, after 'LIBRARY HOLDINGS AT' for the information you need to find this book.

For example, once you are in the "Full Details" for an item, click on the "Holdings" button in the top right of the record. This will bring you to the holdings information at the bottom of the page.

To find this book:

The holdings information tell you that this book is held at Robarts Library. It's call number is PS8523 .A77S8 1968A
Proceed to the book stacks at Robarts library.
Look for the call number on the shelf.

See below for further details about Locations, Call Numbers

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The Holdings Display

The Holdings display gives you several important pieces of information:

Robarts Library	Copies	Material	Location
PS8523 A77S8 1968A	1	Book, etc.	Stacks

The top row tells you what library owns the item. Immediately below the library's name is the call number for the item at that location.

Beside the call number is the number of copies held in that location.

The "Material" column give you information about how the item can be accessed. This column will tell you if it is a book, periodical, microfilm, video, reference material, etc.

The "Location" column tell you if the book is available. If the book is available in the library the Location will read "Stacks." If the book is checked out the Location will read "Checked out" and provide the due date for the when the item. The Location column will also tell you if a book is available in Short Term Loan.

In the example above, Robarts Library is the location, PS 8523 .A77S8 1968A is the call number and the book is available.

How do you know where a library is located, and what hours it is open? Consult the Guide to University of Toronto Libraries and Collections by clicking on Individual Libraries and Hours from the library home page. A Clickable Map of all University of Toronto Libraries and Collections is also available on the Guide to Libraries.

Remember that not all campus libraries have the same hours, so it is advisable to find out if a library is open before you go, especially in the evenings, weekends, and summer or other holidays.

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Call Numbers

A call number is like an address that tells you where to find an item on the shelf in a particular library. Most libraries at the University of Toronto use the Library of Congress system of call numbers. The Library of Congress system is made up of a combination of letters and numbers.

In our example at the top of this page, the call number is: PS 8523 .A77S8 1968A

Please look at the guide to Library of Congress Call Numbers for details on how call numbers are shelved, what they mean, and other tips.

Some libraries, such as the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, or the Faculty of Information Studies, use the Dewey Decimal System, which is the system that is used by most public libraries. There are a number of additional call number systems used by campus libraries with special needs.

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Location

Tells you whether a book is available or checked out, and other information about the current availability of the book

Available: The book is in the library.
Checked out: The book has been signed out by another borrower. The due date is listed immediately below the text "Checked out"

Borrowing

For information on borrowing books, go to services on the UTL web site. Choose your category of borrower. Look under Circulation Services.

You may also wish to consult the UTL FAQ.

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