Location - Call number - Status - Placing a hold - View your borrowing record
 

Finding materials on the Library shelves

To find materials in the Library, you need to:

  1. search the Library catalogue
  2. display your results
  3. select a useful title
  4. take note of the location, call number (CALL#), and status of the item on the Catalogue record
  5. use the location and call number to find the item in the library

Below is an example of a catalogue record found in Australia. Not all catalogue records look the same, although they usually tell you the same information.

  • Location tells you which Library collection the item is in.
  • Call number - CALL # - tells you where the item is on the shelf.
  • Status tells you whether the item is in the Library or out on loan.

Let's consider each of these separately.

Location

Using the example above, the Location box shows that the item is held at Wollongong Level 1. Other locations at the Wollongong Campus Library may include W'Gong Short Loans, Large Books, Law Lending, Journals, Maps or other campus libraries. Check with your local library about the locations used.

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Call number (CALL#)

To find where the item is on the shelf, you need to look at the CALL# (call number) box.

The call number is made up of two parts, separated by a slash ( / ).

  • The first part is the subject number (510.1). Books on a similar topic are given the same subject number. This means you can browse the shelves nearby for related material.
  • The second part (18) is called the shelf number.

In the example above the call number is 510.1/18. To find this item on the shelf:

  1. find 510
  2. find the numbers following the decimal point (Note: numbers without a decimal point are shelved first eg. 510/ comes before 510.01/ which comes before 510.1/ )
  3. find the shelf number

This is an example of the order the books would be in on the shelves:

510
1

510
2

510
3

510.01
1

510.01
2

510.1
1

510.1
2

510.12
1

Some items also have a prefix. The prefix will appear on the spine (down the side) of the item. An example might be:

F
510.12
18

In this case the prefix F tells us that the item is in the Large Books section.

Some of the prefixes commonly used on items at the Wollongong Campus Library are:

Prefix Location
F Large Books Level 1
S Journals Level 2
AV Audiovisual Ground Level
M Music Ground Level
N Newspapers Ground Level
K Law Ground Level

Check with your local library about the prefixes used.

Activity:

Below are six call numbers for items which may be found in the Library. List these call numbers in the order in which you would find them on the shelf.

320
3

320.001
2

321.3
4

320.1
5

321.3
3

320.01
1

Click here to check your answers.

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Status

To find out whether the item is available for borrowing or is out on loan, you need to check the Status box of the Catalogue record.

As we can see from the record above, the book 'Godel's proof' is IN LIBRARY, which means it is available for borrowing.

Other information that may commonly appear in the status box is shown in the record below.

DUE DATE tells you when the item is due back in the Library.
COPY ORDERED tells you that the item has been ordered but has not yet arrived in the Library.
ON HOLDSHELF tells you the item is on hold for another student and is waiting to be picked up.
PUBLIC LIBRARY/ TAFE LIBRARY means that you need to check the relevant local library catalogue for the status of the item.

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Placing a hold

Below is an example of how a hold/reserve is placed. Check your local library to see if this service is available to you.

If an item is out on loan, you can place a hold on it. When the item is returned, you will be notified that it is ready for collection. To place a hold:

  1. First, search the Library catalogue for the book you want to place a hold on, then select the Hold button at the top of the record.

  2. Next, enter your name and the barcode number on your student card (which is also your Library card) and select Request Selected Item.



    Note that you can only place two holds at one time, so you should think carefully when placing a hold. In the record below, the status box shows the due date of the item and number of holds already placed on this book. Use this information to decide whether you wish to place a hold.

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View your borrowing record

Most library catalogues allow you to view a list of borrowed items. Below is an example of this option in Australia. Check with your local library to see if this service is available to you.

On the University of Wollongong Library homepage, under the heading Borrowing, is the option View your borrowing record. Your borrowing record provides details of fines, holds, and the number of items you have borrowed.

This option also allows you to renew borrowed items and to cancel holds, as shown in the diagram below.


You have now completed this section.

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