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ENGR 1: Introduction to Library Resources (Kuczenski /Schaffer): Books

Compare the relevance and the validity of library resources vs. being overwhelmed by Google results!

Books

Engineering Books : Circulating Books & Reference Books

The Library uses the Library of Congress Classification system. The general classifications used in engineering are:

Q    General Science
QA    Mathematics/Computer Science
T    General Technology
TA    Civil engineering/Engineering Management
TD    Environmental Technology
TE    Highway engineering
TF    Railroad engineering
TG    Bridge construction
TH    Building construction
TJ    Mechanical engineering/Machinery
TK    Electrical engineering/Electronics/Nuclear engineering
TL    Motor vehicles/Aeronautics/Astronautics
TS    Manufacturing

OSCAR is the library's electronic catalog.  You can search for books and other materials (But not specific articles) by title, author, subject and keywords.  For print copy items on reserve, click on Course Reserves on the library homepage under "Services."

How to Search for Circulating Books in the Main Stacks or ARS (limiting the results to items you can borrow):

Go to the OSCAR Advanced Search page.

Type in your search terms in the boxes provided.  In the box called "Optional Search Limits/Sorts," under location--select University Library Main Stacks.  Do your search.

Borrowing Books

Books that can be checked out are located on the shelves or in the automated retrieval system (ARS).  If the catalog record indicates "Request from the ARS" as the item location, click on it, enter your name, and pick up your item on the hold shelves across from the Library Help Desk.  Items from the ARS will be on the hold shelves for 24 hours. If there is no "Request from the ARS" indication, then the item is on the shelf by call number. You may request available books by clicking on the "Request " button on the full item record.

Reference Books

Encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks , guides, etc. can be found on the lower level's compact reference shelves. These reference tools and others help define terminology and provide a context for the subject area. Background reading can help you choose a specific topic to pursue for your research. Reference materials are for library use only and cannot be checked out.

To search Reference Books only, follow the "How to Search..." directions above, and instead of University Main Stacks, select "University Library Reference Collection."

There is also a collection of searchable electronic reference books in: 

Try LINK+. A service which allows students, faculty and staff to borrow books from a group of other university, college and public libraries. The books will be available for pickup at the the Library Circulation Desk usually within 3 days. After any search in OSCAR, you may re-do the search in LINK+ by clicking on the Search LINK+ button at the top of the screen.

We can obtain photocopies of articles and borrow books not available through LINK+ for you through our Interlibrary Loan & LINK+ service. Just follow the directions on OSCAR for an INTERLIBRARY LOAN. Items such as journal articles can be delivered to your SCU e-mail inbox. Other materials such as books that must come through the mail may take 3-10 working days.