Finding items in departmental libraries
- What are the departmental libraries?
- Where are the departmental libraries?
- How do I know if an item is in a departmental library?
- How do I retrieve an item from a departmental library?
- What if the item I need is checked out or missing?
- How do I find out more?
What are the departmental libraries?
UIUC has many libraries devoted to particular academic fields or subject disciplines. A complete listing of them is here.
Where are the departmental libraries?
Several departmental libraries are located in the Main Library building. Others are scattered throughout campus--for instance, Grainger, the engineering library, is located in a standalone building on the engineering quad, and the Veterinary Medicine library is housed in the vet med building. More information on library locations.
How do I know if an item is in a departmental library?
The locations of items are indicated in the online catalog. An item in the Education and Social Sciences Library, for instance, will have its location noted as follows:
How do I retrieve an item from a departmental library?
Most departmental libraries offer open access to their collections, so in most cases, it is simply a matter of jotting down the call number of the item you need, visiting the library it's housed in, and retrieving it from the shelf. You can also order items online using the "Request" feature of the online catalog.
What if the item I need is checked out or missing?
If an item is checked out or missing, we can usually obtain a copy from another library for you. Please see this page for details.
If an item isn't on the shelf where it's supposed to be in a departmental library, please ask a staff member for assistance.
How do I find out more?
If your question wasn't answered here, please Ask a Librarian for help.
