Locating items

How do I find an item at the library?

Items at CSU library are located either online, in the CSU library building itself, or at one of the other libraries in our consortium (their items can be sent here to CSU).  If you still cannot find the item you're looking for in any of these places, you can also request it through our Interlibrary Loan service (we ask libraries outside of our consortium for access to that material for you).

How do I find an item online?

To find articles, you can use the databases that you have access to through our library website. To find ebooks, you can search our ebook collections directly (Ebrary & EBSCO eBooks) and also search TOPCAT, the library catalog.

How do I find an item in the library building?

You will first need to search for the item in the catalog online (TOPCAT). When you have the call number (the combination of letters and numbers that is assigned to that particular item, i.e. RJ 23.P4 2012), you will then go to the section of the library where it is found to find that item. Call numbers are read from left to right. So first start by finding the first letter, followed by the second, and then the numbers. You can click on the location code that is listed next to the call number to get a popup map of the library to see where different call numbers are located.

See demonstrations on reading and understanding call numbers.

What are the acronyms I keep seeing in the catalog?

Because we share items with the other libraries in our consortium (SWITCH), the catalog (TOPCAT) will show you results for all of these 8 libraries. They have the following abbreviations for their location codes:

• Alverno College (AC)
• Cardinal Stritch University (CSU)
• Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW)
• Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD)
• Mount Mary College (MMC)
• Sacred Heart School of Theology (SHST)
• Saint Francis Seminary (SFS)
• Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC)

What does the status column in the catalog mean?

The status will tell you if that item is currently available or if it's checked out. If it is checked out it will list the date for when it is due. Other statuses might say in transit (it is on its way from another library), lib use only (may only use the item in the library), or missing (item is lost). There is a link within the catalog to see a full list of the status acronyms if you're unsure about what something means (link is labeled "what's this?" next to the word "Status")