Frequently Asked Questions
Where Can I Find...?
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Where can I find books using the UI Libraries catalog? InfoHawk is the UI Libraries catalog. Use the BASIC SEARCH drop-down menu to enter a search term: title, subject, author, etc. Results are shown as brief records. Note the LOCATION and whether the book is available--i.e., Check Shelf. If it is checked out, click on location link to view the date it must be returned. Next: Where can I find a book once I have its call number?
The library also provides a variety of e-books available through the InfoHawk catalog, while many catalog records contain links to table of contents and sales information at Amazon.com & Google Books. Other books are accessible only through the listing of e-book databases.
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Where can I find a book once I have its call number?
A book's Call No.
is listed on library catalog records along with LOCATION.
The University of Iowa libraries primarily use these call numbers (Call No.) based on the Library of Congress classification system (for example, PG3366.V6M3 1965 uses "P" to denote language & literature), and the Superintendent of Documents (SuDocs) system for government and legal documents (e.g., JU2.2: IR5/V.1-3). Remember that Library of Congress call numbers actually begin with letters.
See FLOORS for all of the Main Library collections
- In Main, books are being relocated throughout floors two, four and five; Library Blog: Books Are on the Move....
Books with subject classifications that begin with call numbers A through D are shelved on 5th floor [map]. Classifications beginning with call numbers E through Z are divided at PS3515 the former which are shelved on 4th floor [map], then call numbers continuing from PS3517 through the Z collection shelved on 2nd floor [map]. Literature and language arts comprise most of the Main Library general stacks. - The word "FOLIO" indicates that a book or item is over-sized and may be shelved separately from regular size items. These may include maps, art books and photography, music scores, graduate theses, dissertations and government publications. On shelved items, a lowercase f is used to indicate folio.
Dewey Decimal classification numbers begin with numbers, e.g., 001.1 through 999.9. There are Dewey Decimal items among children's books and older catalogued acquisitions. Ask staff at Circulation Services (first floor, south) to retrieve storage items.
Books with "quick access" (QUAC) call numbers such as "92-849" also begin with numbers; in this case "92" refers to 1992, the year the book was published. In the Main Library QUAC-numbered items are shelved in the Media/Reserve Room, 1st floor, south.
Any item with location Art Library has returned to the west campus location; Library Blog: Art Library Closed until January 17.
Any item with location East Asian Collection is shelved on 2nd floor of the Main Library, northwest.
Any item with location Math Collection is shelved in the Main Library on 2nd floor, east.
Any item with location Main Library Reference 'south index' shelves moved back to 1st floor or to 2nd floor study areas, denoted R for Reference material. (Most Reference non-circulating materials are located as usual among reference materials on 1st and behind the counter at Reference and Information desks.)
A book or printed musical score with location Rita Benton Music Library is housed in the Main Library on 2nd floor, the building's west side, while Music Media items are housed in room 2006 of the Main Library for Music Library resources.An item with location Storage must be requested in person or using the online catalog link. For example, view Soviets in Central Asia library storage item--note the storage location, Libraries Annex; read more on library storage services.
See also How can I teach myself to use the libraries?
See also Materials in the Main Library
Where can I find a book that is not on the shelf?
If an item is not on the shelf and is not checked out, library staff at any circulation desk can put the item "on search" for you. They will notify you when it is found. If an item is already checked out, you may recall it online by clicking on the recall link within the catalog record. A separate online recall form is also provided by Main Library Circulation Services.
To check the status of requests, see My Library.
Where can I find a book whose location is marked "in process "?
If an item is not on the shelf and its catalog record location is marked "in process" it may yet be available. You may request the item online, or ask for help at information or circulation desks.
I'm supposed to read a book on reserve; where can I find it?
There are course reserve collections at Main and all branches. To search for reserve items, see the Course Reserves section of the InfoHawk catalog. In the Main Library, Reserves are located on 1st floor, south. NOTE: Music Library reserves may be located separately with Music resources room 2006 on 2nd floor, Main Library. Location of reserve materials are listed in the item record.
Where can I find audiotapes, compact discs—CDs—and other sound recordings?
Many audiotapes and non-musical sound recordings are located in the Media Collection (ph. 319-335-5912), 1st floor, Main Media/Reserve Room. Many compact discs—CDs—and other music recordings are housed with Music resources, room 2006, Main Library (see Rita Benton Music Library, ph. 319-335-5086). Listening equipment is provided there.
- Materials may also be found in Special Collections or the Iowa Women's Archives, as well as in other branch libraries.
- Live streaming of literary visits for The Writing University and other author readings have also been collected and digitized by the UI Libraries for online access. See also Assistive Technology.
- Location of audiotapes as well as videos, DVD and VHS films are listed in the library catalog. Non-musical audiotapes may include interviews, oral histories, speeches, authors reading their own works, language instruction, and how-to tapes. The library does not as a rule purchase books-on-tape.
In the catalog's ADVANCED SEARCH option, select sound recording--musical or sound recording--non-musical under the list of FORMAT choices to locate CDs, cassettes, and other audio formats. You may also limit a search to CDs.
Where can I find articles?
You will need to use an index. Indexes are available in print and electronic format and are found in all libraries on campus. Print indexes to newspapers, magazines and journals are shelved among Reference Materials on 1st and 2nd floors, Main Library. Branch libraries also house specialized indexes.
- Databases/Indexes - An alphabetical listing of online databases you can access through the libraries' website.
- Resources by Subject - Selected resources arranged according to subject.
- Resources by Type - Resources categorized by type of information delivery (dictionaries, encyclopedias, newspapers, and more).
Journal articles and other research materials not owned by UI Libraries can usually be borrowed through Interlibrary Loan. Deliveries average 2-5 days.
Ask a librarian for help in selecting an index appropriate to your topic.
See also: How to Find Magazine and Journal Articles | How-to Find Newspaper Articles | How-to-find Popular Journals, Magazines, & Newspapers
"How can I distinguish between a magazine and a specialized or scholarly journal?"
Where can I find college catalogs?
The current University of Iowa General Catalog is available online. Print titles ceased in 2004.
The library does not collect catalogs from other institutions. For help locating the online version of another university catalog, contact the Main Library Reference and Information Services. Students might try this free website: CollegeSource® Online.
Where can I find maps? Where can I find a map of the Main Library?
Maps are available in the Map Collection (335-5920) on 3rd floor, central hallway of Main Library. Several atlases are also available among Reference Materials, 1st floor. Campus maps are available online. LIB
The Main Library directory
and campus libraries locations are linked under "Campus Libraries and Hours" on all library web pages and are available in print from handout racks at the Information Desk and at other library service desks.
Where can I find microfilm and microfiche?
The InfoHawk library catalog lists whether a specific microfilm or microfiche is located in the Main Library or in a branch library. To locate a specific microfilmed document, in the catalog's ADVANCED SEARCH option, select microform under the list of FORMAT choices. In the Main Library most microfilm and microfiche are shelved in the Media Collection on 1st floor. If an item is located elsewhere (such as in Reference), the catalog will provide that information.
Where can I find magazines and journals using the library catalog?
Magazines and journals may be located in the Main Library and in all campus libraries.
To find a specific magazine or journal, choose Journal Title Search in the InfoHawk library catalog
and search by Title beginning with.... Locations are listed for print subscriptions or links for electronic access.
In the Main Library, current (unbound) issues of magazines and journals are shelved in the Periodicals Room, 3rd floor, northeast corner. Back issues typically are bound and shelved in the Periodicals Room or sent to storage.
Others may be kept in the Reserve/Media room.
Serials with call numbers typically are shelved among the books.
See Materials in the Main Library directory.
- Also in the Main Library, magazines and journals written in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean are shelved on second floor, northwest, in the East Asian Studies collection.
- Campus libraries own selected periodicals in specific subject areas. Staff at each library can assist in locating a specific title on the shelves.
See also: How to Find Magazine and Journal Articles | How-to Find Newspaper Articles | How-to-find Popular Journals, Magazines, & Newspapers
"How can I distinguish between a magazine and a specialized or scholarly journal?"
Where can I find newspapers?
Current issues of local and some major U.S. newspapers and a few international newspapers (including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Cedar Rapids Gazette, Iowa City Press-Citizen, Daily Iowan, Le Monde, and The Times of London) are kept in the Reserve/Media room, Main Library, 1st floor; back issues are available on microfilm. Current issues of many non-U.S. newspapers are shelved on third floor, northeast reading room, near the current periodical shelves. East Asian newspapers are located on second floor, northwest. They are all listed by title in the InfoHawk library catalog.
To find a specific newspaper subscription, in the catalog's ADVANCED SEARCH option, select newspaper under the list of FORMAT choices. Locations will be listed for print subscriptions or links for electronic access.
See also How-to-find...Popular Journals, Magazines, & Newspapers
To access newspaper-related sources online, see news and newspapers under the Resources by Type listings. Recommended sites include Access World News and LexisNexis for full text versions of many U.S. and international newspapers, and the New York Times Proquest database for news from 1851 to the present day. You can also check for online access to a specific newspaper through the e-journals list.
Where can I find telephone books?
Telephone books for most Iowa cities and some other cities are shelved in Reference Materials,1st floor, across from the Laptops/ Reference Desk.
A few heavily used telephone books are kept at the Main Library Information/Reference Desk. These include Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Ames, Waterloo/Cedar Falls, the Quad Cities, Iowa City, and the UI directory—also known as the "herd book."
Where can I find a list of University of Iowa salaries?
University of Iowa salaries list is kept in University Archives on third floor, Main Library. For older lists, contact Government Information. The Iowa City Press-Citizen maintains a searchable list of salaries over $20,000 for the current year and several previous years. The State of Iowa also maintains the Salary Book which includes the University of Iowa.
The most current University of Iowa budget report is online, and also--titled "Internal Allocations"-- archived in the Special Collections unit for University Archives on third floor, Main Library LIB
Where can I find tax forms? Electronic format only.
- Federal tax forms may be downloaded directly from the IRS website.
- Iowa tax forms may be downloaded from the Iowa Department of Revenue.
- A notebook of reproducible tax forms, 1982-most recent, is shelved in Main Library among the UI Libraries' government collection print holdings, at T22.57:1132/yr.
- Some forms and assistance are available at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St., (356-5200).
For more on taxes, see Resources by Subject or Libguides:
Government Information - United States Government Information topic: Taxes.
Where can I find videos and Digital Video Disc's (DVDs)?
Most library-owned videos and DVDs are located in the Media Collection (319-335-5912), 1st floor of the Main Library, though some may be housed in branch libraries.
Under the catalog's ADVANCED SEARCH option, you may limit your search to all video formats, VHS only, or DVD only.
How can I obtain materials the library doesn't own?
- Service request online forms for missing and not yet available materials: if you are affiliated with the University of Iowa and in need of items not available at the University Libraries, you may request it online from Interlibrary Loan/Document Delvery. They will attempt to borrow the materials from another library at no direct cost to you.
UI-affiliated users may also request that the library purchase an item....
last revised: January 27, 2012 - Main Reference stafft
