Q. I need to find a textbook for my class. Does the library own it?

Use the Course Reserves search tool to locate materials placed on reserve. You can search by either the instructor’s name or the course abbreviation (e.g., FR 1105 or ESM 4404). For more information, please visit our Course Reserves page.

Textbooks in the Library

The library holds some textbooks, either in the regular collection or on Reserve if placed there by faculty. To check availability, use the list of textbooks from the University Bookstore and search for titles in Discovery Search on our homepage. Discovery Search includes:

• Print books in our collection.
• Faculty-owned print textbooks.
• Ebooks.

Important Notes About Textbook Access

Owning a textbook in the library does not guarantee you can avoid purchasing your own copy. Reserve textbooks typically have short loan periods—either two weeks or two days for most books. Textbooks in the regular collection may be recalled by other students in your class, which can shorten your checkout time.

Search by ISBN

After reviewing the textbook list on the University Bookstore site, copy the ISBN number for each book. Use the ISBN search in the library catalog to check availability. If we own the textbook, this method should return a screen listing the location and availability of the item. If no results appear, the library may own a different edition that could still be useful.

To search for other editions:

1. Use Advanced Search in the catalog.
2. Enter the last name of the author (or the first listed author) in the Author field.
3. Enter the first few words of the title in the Title field.
4. Review the results and note the publication years.
5. Click the title link for more information.

Faculty Placed Reserves

Faculty may place textbooks on reserve using either a library-owned copy or their personal copy. To find these:

• Search the Reserves section of the catalog.
• Use either the professor's last name, the course abbreviation and number, or course name.
• Try multiple search methods if one doesn't return results.
• You can also ask your instructor if they plan to place a copy of the textbook on reserve or already have one available.

Online Textbooks (E-Reserve Materials):

In addition to physical copies, some textbooks may be available online. Visit our Online Textbooks - Fall 2025 page for a guide and links to available e-reserve materials. You can search by course number, course name, or instructor.