Where Can I Find...?
Where can I find a book if I have its call number?
Where can I find a book that is not on the shelf?
Where can I find a book if its location is marked "ask staff"?
I'm supposed to read a book on reserve; where can I find it?
How can I obtain materials the library doesn't own?
Where can I find books at the UI Libraries?
The library also provides access to a variety of e-books. Although some of these are listed in the UI Libraries catalog, others are accessible only through the listing of e-books.
Where can I find a book once I have its call number?
Use the first capital letter of a call number to determine book location.
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 the item is already checked out, you may recall the item yourself by clicking on the recall link within the catalog record. A separate online recall form is also provided by Circulation Services.
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, Hardin, and the branches. To search for reserve items, see the Course Reserves section of the InfoHawk catalog to determine where the material is located. At the Main Library, Reserve Services (335-5912) is located on the first floor, south.
Where can I find compact discs, audiotapes, and other sound recordings?
Most compact discs, or CDs, and other musical recordings are housed in the Main Library room 5033, Rita Benton Music Library (319/335-5086). Many non-musical recordings are located in the Media Services Department (319/335-5944) of Main Library. Items may also be housed in Special Collections or the Iowa Women's Archives as well as in any of the branch libraries.
Locations of videotapes and audiotapes are listed in the online catalog.
Non-musical audiotapes include such materials as 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 compact discs, cassettes, and other audio formats. You may also limit your search to CDs only.
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 in the Reference Area on first floor, Main Library. Branch libraries also house specialized indexes.
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 
Hard-to-find 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. Also, a print copy is kept at the Information/Reference Desk in Main Library. Previous versions can be viewed in Special Collections.
Though the library does not collect catalogs from other institutions, most colleges and universities now provide internet access to their catalogs. For help locating the online version of a specific catalog, ask at the Information/Reference Desk. Or try this recommended website: College Source 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 third floor, central hallway of Main Library. Several atlases are also available in the Reference Area, first floor. Campus maps are available online.
The Main Library floor-by-floor directory and campus libraries locations map are located under "Campus Libraries and Hours" on the libraries' website and in print at the Information Desk, the Main Library north entrance, 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. In the Main Library most microfilm and microfiche are shelved in Media Services. If an item is located elsewhere (such as in Reference), the catalog will provide that information.
Where can I find magazines and journals?
There are magazines and journals 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 Main Library: If they have no call number, current (unbound) issues of most periodicals are shelved alphabetically by title in the Periodicals Room: third floor, northeast corner. Older (bound) issues typically are also shelved alphabetically by title in the Periodicals Room, third floor, east. Some periodicals are also available on microfiche in Media Services. Journals with call numbers are shelved on fourth and fifth floors among the books.
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
Hard-to-find 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 (for example, Daily Iowan, New York Times, Le Monde) are kept in Media Services, Main Library, first 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 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 many larger U.S. cities are shelved in the Reference alcoves, first floor, across from the Reference Desk.
A few heavily used telephone books are kept at the Main Library Information/Reference Desk. These include Chicago, Minneapolis, Washington, D.C., Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Ames, Waterloo/Cedar Falls, the Quad Cities, Iowa City, and the UI directory aka the "Herd Book."
Where can I find the University of Iowa budget report?
The budget report is located in the Special Collections Department on third floor, Main Library.
Where can I find a list of University of Iowa salaries?
A current list of salaries is kept in Special Collections on third floor, Main Library. For older lists, see Government Publications, third floor, north. A list is also shelved behind the Reference Desk, first floor, though it may not be the most current. The Iowa City Press-Citizen maintains a searchable list of salaries over $20,000 for the current year and several past years. The State of Iowa also maintains the Salary Book which includes the University of Iowa.
Where can I find tax forms?
An extensive set of paper forms and copies are available at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 S. Linn St., (356-5200). Federal tax forms may be downloaded directly from the IRS website. Iowa tax forms may be downloaded from the Iowa Department of Revenue.
Where can I find videos and DVDs?
Most library-owned videos and DVDs are located in the Media Services Department (335-5944) of 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.
Where can I find materials the library doesn't own?
If you are affiliated with the University of Iowa and need materials not available at the University Libraries, please contact the Interlibrary Loan department (335-5917). They will attempt to borrow the materials from another library at no direct cost to you. You may submit requests through our Interlibrary Loan/Article Delivery Request System.
last updated: August 13, 2009