Storage guide: Books in the Library

Academic libraries organize physical books using the Library of Congress Classification Outline.This is how you find a book in the library.

The  classification system produces a "call number" on each book - an alphabetical and numerical sequence which locates a specific book on the shelf. More about understanding Library of Congress call numbers.

This system clusters books together by topic. If you know the call number range for a particular topic you are resarching (even if you don't find exactly what you are looking for in the catalog) browsing the shelves can often lead you to other, similar books.

• Circulating books are available for check-out in YLRC/201.

• Reference books are available for in-library use in YLRC/202.

• eBooks can be read online with a valid Borrower ID number and PIN.

• Interlibrary Loan books may be requested online and sent to HCC for you to check out.

To Find a book in the library using the Library Catalog (HCC Libraries Search):

1. You need the Call Number
2. Check the Location (Circulation, Reference, etc.)
3. Check the availability (available, checked out, etc.)

Here is a step-by-step document to help you find a print book in the library.  If you can't find what you need, ask for help. 

If you need a book for your research that we don't have at your campus library, you can request it. Here are instructions.

If a literary work is not in your textbook, before you go out and buy a copy, try one or more of these resources:

Search HCC libraries and a library database

Search other libraries

Search these web sites