Find a Book

How to Find a Book

Locate a BookFind Call Numbers in EllisRead a Call NumberMaps & LocationsCirculation Status Codes

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Locate Your Book

After you search and find a book in the catalog, you need three pieces of information to locate your material.

  1. Location: Which library the book is located
  2. Call number: Where the book is exactly on the shelves
  3. Status: Whether the book is available, checked out, or missing.
LOCATION CALL NUMBER STATUS

Pride and Prejudice catalog entry

 

 

Find an Ellis Library Call Number

(WARNING: this will NOT work for other libraries on campus)

Input below the call number of a book at Ellis Library to receive a map and written directions to the book's location.

Thumbnail links to Addresses, Directions & Maps

Call Number:  

Video by MU Librarian Michael Muchow

 

Still Can’t Find a Book?

First:

  1. Make sure you are looking in the correct library. Check the library location.
  2. Check the call number.
  3. Make sure the book is not already checked out. Check the status.

Options:

  1. Look for it yourself
    • Look for the reshelving area and check there. Reshelving areas are usually against walls and are marked RESHELVING.
    • Go to the shelving room of the 4th floor of Ellis and ask for assistance: Map or Video Directions.
  2. Ask for help at the Reference Desk.
  3. Request the Library locate the book and hold if for you at Circulation. This might take several days. Follow the UMLD directions.
  4. See if book is available on another campus (MOBIUS) and request the book be sent to you.

 

NOTE: To check out books, you'll need a current MU ID or guest borrower's card

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find Call Numbers in Ellis Library

Call Number Ranges (click on range to view map)

Location

AC  →  APIcon_External_Link_Video 4 East
AS  →  AZIcon_External_Link_Video 4 East
B    →  DAIcon_External_Link_Video 3 East
DB  →  DFIcon_External_Link_Video 3 East
DG  →  DRIcon_External_Link_Video 3 East
DS  →  HEIcon_External_Link_Video 3 East
HF  →  LIcon_External_Link_Video 2 East
L    →   LTIcon_External_Link_Video 2 East
M   →  M 991Icon_External_Link_Video 4 East
M 1000 →  NIcon_External_Link_Video 4 East
N    →  NXIcon_External_Link_Video 4 East
P    →  PGIcon_External_Link_Video 2A West
PH  →  PQ 2999Icon_External_Link_Video 3 Central
PQ 3000  →  QIcon_External_Link_Video 2 East
Q   →  QD 380Icon_External_Link_Video 2 East
QD 381 →  QKIcon_External_Link_Video 2 East
QL 100 →  QRIcon_External_Link_Video 2 Central
R   →  RZIcon_External_Link_Video 2 Central
S   →  SKIcon_External_Link_Video 2 West
T   →   UHIcon_External_Link_Video 1A West
V   →   VMIcon_External_Link_Video 1 West
Z   →   ZAIcon_External_Link_Video 1 West

 

 

 

 

 

Special Call Numbers

Call Number/Collection

Location

001  → 353.7Icon_External_Link_Video 3 West
353.8 (Government Documents) 1 East
353.9  →  999Icon_External_Link_Video 3 West

Special Locations

Collection

Location

MU Library Depository (UMLD) MU Depository
SPECIcon_External_Link_Video 4 North West
ReferenceIcon_External_Link_Video 1 East
ReserveIcon_External_Link_Video 1 North
DVD CollectionIcon_External_Link_Video 1 Central
Federal Goverment DocumentsIcon_External_Link_Video 1 East
Missouri State DocumentsIcon_External_Link_Video 1 East
Current Periodicals / JournalsIcon_External_Link_Video 1 Central
JuvenileIcon_External_Link_Video 3 West

 

 

 

call numbers breakdown

Find out more about the Library of Congress Classification System.

Maps, Locations, & Floor Plans

Library More Information…
MU Archives University Archives
MU Depository Request delivery from off-site storage
MU Engineering Library Engineering Library & Technology Commons
MU Geology Geological Sciences Library
MU Health Sciences Library Health Sciences Library
MU Journalism Journalism Library
MU Law Library MU Law Library
MU Math Mathematical Sciences Library
State Historical Society-Columbia State Historical Society of Missouri
MU Veterinary Medical Library Veterinary Medical Library

 

Status Code Meaning
AVAILABLE

If the book is still on the shelf, it can be checked out for a shorter amount of time because of a pending request on it.

BILLED A patron has kept it past the due date.
DUE

Checked out until the listed date.

If a book you want is currently checked out, you can learn how request the book from:

a MERLIN library

a MOBIUS library

Interlibrary Loan (ILL@MU)

IN PROCESS 

Is being processed to be added to the library. It will soon be available to check out.

IN TRANSIT

Not available to check out. It is being transferred between libraries.

LIB USE ONLY

May only be used inside of the library.

This code is usually reserved for Reference Books and books in Special Collections.

MISSING

Is lost.

NEW BOOKS On a new book shelf in Ellis or a branch library.
NOT CHECKED OUT In the library and available to be checked out.
ON HOLD Has been recalled by a patron.
ON HOLD SHELF Being held at the circulation desk for the patron who has requested it.
PAGED + ONE HOLD

The item has been requested (paged) and has not yet been pulled from the shelf.

UNDER CONSIDERATION In the approval room for the Library to evaluate. It will most likely be added to the library and soon be available to check out.