Follow the steps below to find a book. If you have any trouble finding items, please ask at the main desk--we are more than happy to assist you.
Search in PrimoDiscovery. For physical books in the library, select the "Physical Resource in Library" box.
When you find a book you want, print or write down the citation (author, title, etc.), the location (Circulating Collection, Reference, etc.), and call number. Note the circulation status: 'available' means it is not checked out.
Circulating Collection: Second floor. Most books are in the Circulating Collection.
Children's Literature: Main floor
Reference Collection: Northwest corner of the second floor, after the Z call numbers
The library uses the Library of Congress (LC) Classification System. The LC call number which you see on the computer screen when you look up a book matches what is on the spine of the book. It’s how the books are organized.
Each book has a unique call number, which is like an address -- it tell us where the book is located.
Books are arranged in alpha-numeric order. A call number might look like this:
LB Line 1
2395 Line 2
.L58 Line 3
1988 Line 4
v.4 Line 5
Line 1 designates the subject area. Read it in alphabetical order, so L is first, then LA, LB, LC, etc.
Line 2 is a whole number. 1,2,3,4...100...1000,1001...2000...2395, 2396, etc.
Line 3 is a combination. Read the letter alphabetically and read the number as a decimal. So L before M and .58 before .6
Line 4 is the year the book was published.
Line 5 refers to a multi-volume book.
Line 1 of the call number designates the subject area. Here is a list of subject areas in the Library of Congress Classification System. You can find a book without knowing this information, since you have the catalog to help you. However, it can be helpful to know the call number range of a subject area you use often.
A - General Works
B - Philosophy, Psychology, Religion
BC Logic
BF Psychology
BJ Ethics
BL-BX Religion
C - Auxilary Sciences of History
D - History: General & Outside of the Americas
DA Great Britian
DB-DP Europe
DS Asia
DT Africa
DU Oceania
E - History: United States
F - History: United States (Local & Americas)
G - Geography
GE Environmental Sciences
GR Folklore
GV Physical Education, Sports
H - Social Sciences
HA Statistics
HB-HC Economic theory, history
HF Commerce
HG Finance
HM-HN Sociology & social history
HQ Family, marriage, women
HT Communities
HV Social and public welfare
HX Socialism, communism, anarchism
J - Political Science
K - Political Science (Law)
L - Education
LA History of education
LB Theory and practice
LD-LG Higher education
M - Music
N - Fine Arts
NA Architecture
NB Sculpture
NC Drawing, design, illustration
ND Painting
NK Decorative arts
P - Language
PA Classical language & literature
PC Romance languages
PE English language
PQ Romance literature
PR English literature
PS American literature
Q - Science
QA Mathematics
QB Astronomy
QC Physics
QD Chemistry
QE Geology
QH Natural history, biology
QK Botany
QL Zoology
QP Physiology
R - Medicine
S - Agriculture
T - Technology
TA Engineering
TD Environmental Technology
TR Photography
U - Military Science
V - Naval Science
Z - Library & Information Science
Go to the main library desk, and hand the book and your TLU ID card to the library staff member. The loan period for most books is 4 weeks. There is no limit to the number of books that can be checked out.