Q&A for How to Find Books in a Library

Books are usually sorted by subject using the Dewey Decimal System. That way, you're able to find a lot of books about similar topics just by knowing the number.

Some libraries have an app, which you can find on their website or the app store. If your library doesn't have an app, you will have to visit the library website using the browser (e.g. Safari) on your iPhone.

You can ask a librarian to show you the fiction section. If you have already found a book and are not sure if it is fiction or not, you can check a few places on the book to see. These include the cover, many times a book will say "A Novel" if it is fiction, and the back side of the title page. Look at the Library of Congress Cataloging Publication Data, after the subject there will be a dash, then the word "Fiction" if it is a fiction book.

That depends on the library. Many libraries have a separate section for biographies, which are sorted by the last name of the person they are about.

Yes, it is free to borrow a book from the library. If you don't return it on time, though, you may have to pay a fine.

There is a section just for non-fiction books, where they are ordered by their Dewey or LCON call number.

Usually in a library there is a catalogue that lists all the books in circulation at a time. Using this catalogue, look up the book you would like to check out and look at its information. There is usually a count of how many copies the library owns and how many are checked out; if there is less checked out than the library owns, the book is still available for checkout.

The numbers are a way a library sorts books and is called the Dewey Decimal system. These numbers tell not only where the book should be housed on shelves, but what kind of material it contains. For example, books 000-099 are classified as Generalities, and usually consist of Encyclopedias, Newspapers, etc., while books 100-199 are Philosophy and Psychology, and so on.

If you have no intention of checking out the book, there are usually librarians who can reshelve the book for you around. Attempting to reshelve the book yourself often can lead to the book being misplaced and lost for a while.

The circulation section of a library has many functions and is one of the key components of a library. Some functions include lending material, checking in material, maintaining shelves by replacing checked-in material and solving any conflicts that may appear, i.e. inappropriate patron actions, open drinks and/or food, high noise levels, etc.

Most library catalogs will allow a search by author. You can also ask a librarian who can tell you if the book is available at that library or not.

It often depends on what library you are in. Start by asking a Librarian or Library staff member. Some libraries segregate their oversized books to their own section, some shelve near where it would normally be if it were not oversized (like the very bottom or very stop of a shelf unit) and some lay the book sideways within its normal range on the shelf.

If you are a library guest, you can request the item, in which case the librarians will locate it for you. If you are a librarian, then unfortunately the only answer is to do a thorough search! This is why you should be shelf-reading (checking that everything is in order and putting books back where they should be if they're out of place) regularly.

You can often search for graphic novels, manga, comics, etc. by the titles just like you would a traditional book. If your library does not have a dedicated section for these, then they will probably be shelved with the regular books and you will need to get the the call number (label number) by using the catalog or asking a librarian.

Yes. If by, "reference number," you mean the number on the spine of the book, then you would use that number to locate the book.

A card catalog's purpose is to help you locate what book you are looking for in a library.

This is more of an art than a science, but here are methods I use for finding "lost" books. First, if the person shelving is still there, ask them to retrace their steps with you. Often if they do this, you will run across it. Next, go to the location where it should be shelved and look in the area. Often the person shelving will misread one number and shelve it just a shelf or two above or below. If that fails, place a formal request through the library's hold system. When they process their holds, library staff who are experts at tracking down "lost" materials may be able to locate the item.

Ask a librarian or volunteer for help if the book is missing on the shelf where it should be. They will provide assistance, and if that is not enough then you can ask for an interlibrary loan to get the book you want if another library has it. This is done online.

Yes, you can. Just make sure to have a librarian reshelve it for you, don't put it back yourself. There's usually a place to put books that need to be reshelved, or you can just hand it to a librarian when you're done reading.

Look for fantasies and other types of literature in the 800 section of the library. Shakespeare is the only author to have his own call number: 822.33.

Yes. In the case of the Dewey Decimal System, the first number of a call number reflects the book's main field of study. Example: Books about the sciences and mathematics are classified under the 500s, with the second part of the number indicating a more specific field of science or math. You can check the online catalog by subject to find the call numbers of books in the subject you are interested in and browse in that section of the library.

Usually you can search for books in the online catalog or simply browse the shelves to find books. Borrowing, renewing, and returning library books requires a library card, and the processes will be different from library to library. For some libraries you will have to take your books to a checkout desk, but others are now only using self-checkout machines. For most libraries you can go online to renew your books, but for some you have to call the library and ask a librarian to do it for you. Talk to your own library to find out exactly how things work there.

Librarianship is a set of skills, like any other career - that's why you have to get a Master's degree to be a librarian. Librarians catalog; budget; manage people and collections; organize events; educate everyone from toddlers to seniors on everything from how to read, to how to learn, to advanced iPhone photography techniques, to how to avoid falling for fake news and conspiracy theories; negotiate with the library board and book distributors; and many more things besides. Even workers on the circulation desk (who usually aren't actually librarians) work just as hard as anyone else in customer service, if not more.

An online library catalogue can only tell you where the book is at the library, not actually check it out for you. When you arrive at the library and find the book via the catalogue, you can check it out at the circulation desk. You may be able to place a hold, or reservation on a book on the catalogue, but you will have to go to the library and pick it up.

Review the above article. If all else fails, ask a librarian for help.

Search online for "public libraries near (your location)." Also, check in the back of a phone directory for "libraries."

Use the library's online catalog. You can search the title and see if it is available to check out.