Enter the title of your book into the search box on <a href="http://www.library.ucla.edu/">this page</a>. Then press "enter."
When you see the book you're looking for in the search results, click on its title. The catalog (which is what you call the library's search page) will show you the libraries that own a copy of the book.
<img src="http://miriamposner.com/twine/catalog_search.png" width="80%" height="80%" alt="UCLA library catalog page">
If UCLA owns a copy of the book "University of California, Los Angeles" will appear under the heading that reads "Find a copy in the library."
Which one of these options applies?
<ul>
<li>[[UCLA owns a copy of the book.]]</li>
<li>[[UCLA doesn't own a copy of the book, but another UC does.->A UC library (like UC Davis or UC Merced) has the book, but not UCLA.]]</li>
<li>[[Another library, but not a UC, has the book.]]</li>
<li>[[A big scary-looking box is asking me to log in.]]</li>
</ul>That's the best! Now you just have to figure out where it is and go get it. <a href="https://www.library.ucla.edu/locations">Here</a> is a list of all of the UCLA libraries along with their hours.
[[Help me find the location of the book in the library!]]
[[Uh, I'm at the right location, but the book's not here.]]Click on "Hold" to request that the person who has the book return it to the library. They'll have 10 days to do so. Once they do, the library will notify you, and you can pick it up.
[[I'm frustrated, this will take too long!]]This is the next best thing to UCLA owning the book, because UC libraries deliver books to each other really quickly. Just click on "Request" and fill out the necessary information, and the book will be delivered to the location you've chosen within a few days.
[[I'm frustrated, this will take too long!]]You can request that the book be delivered to UCLA for free via Interlibrary Loan. Just click on the "Request" button and fill out the required information. This will take a little longer than it does to get a book from a UC library.
[[I'm frustrated, this will take too long!]]"SRLF" stands for "Southern Regional Library Facility." It's just the place where UCLA stores books offsite, when people aren't checking them out that often. Click on "Place Request" and the book will be delivered in a day or two.Here are some other options that academics have been known to use:
1. Search <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/">WorldCat</a> to find another library close to you that has the book. WorldCat is smart enough to use your location to find the library closest to you that has a copy available. If you don't want to wait for the book to be delivered to UCLA, you can drive or take the bus to that location and read the book there.
2. Buy the book! This one's obvious. Even though it's way better to use the library, there is an option for procrastinators: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Student/b?node=668781011">Amazon Prime Student</a> offers free same-day shipping to its Westwood storefront.Once you're at the right library, you'll need to actually find the book! You'll do that using a "call number," which is the string of letters and numbers that appears alongside the book's title in the library catalog.
First, take note of the first letter in the call number. Look for a map that tells you where that letter is located within the library's shelving. (Sometimes they call shelving "stacks.") If there's a second letter, that letter will help you narrow your search down further.
For example, if I'm looking for a book with the call number DS559.46 .H35 1986, I'll first look for the "D"s, and then, when I find the "D"s, I'll look for the "DS"s.
Now work on the second part of the call number: the letters that follow the numbers. Read those as a whole number -- so DS559 would come <em>after</em> DS6.
The third part is a combination of letters and numbers. Read it alphabetically first, and then as a decimal. So .C554 would come <em>before</em> .C65.
And then the last line is just the year the book was published!
If you're confused, you can always just ask for help at the front desk. Don't worry, lots of people need help! Please don't get discouraged.
If you don't like asking for help in person, <a href="http://www.usg.edu/galileo/skills/unit03/libraries03_04.phtml">try this webpage</a>.
[[Uh, I'm at the right location, but the book's not here.]]Sometimes books go missing, which is very annoying. You'll need to <a href="http://www.library.ucla.edu/use/borrow-renew-return/items-not-shelf-or-checked-out/find-missing-item">fill out a form to request a search</a>. (They actually do find the book surprisingly frequently.)
[[I'm frustrated, this will take too long!]]That's exciting! But don't get too carried away -- sometimes the catalog's interface makes it look like UCLA has a copy of the ebook, even though it doesn't. You can find out whether UCLA really owns a copy of the ebook by clicking on the ebook, then seeing what it says under "UCLA Library." If nothing shows up there, alas, UCLA does not hold a copy of the ebook.
If you see something like the following image, then it means UCLA only can provide access to a sample of the book and the table of contents -- not the full book.
<img src="http://miriamposner.com/twine/ebook_partial.png" width="95%" height="95%">
If UCLA does have a copy of the ebook, the link will look something like this:
<img src="http://miriamposner.com/twine/ebook_whole.png" width="100%" height="100%">
If UCLA doesn't have a copy of the ebook, you can still look for a print copy. Filter out ebooks from your search by clicking on the "print" checkbox from the list of options that appears on the lefthand side of the catalog search page.I don't know why they make that box so intimidating looking. It just means that if you're not logged in, you can't access all of UCLA databases and ebooks. But you can still see which books UCLA has. Just click on "Enter as guest."
If you do want to sign in, it's unfortunately a little more difficult than just using the web form, like you usually do. You have to use a proxy server or VPN, which make UCLA's servers think you're actually accessing the library's computers from UCLA's campus. <a href="http://www.library.ucla.edu/use/computers-computing-services/connect-campus">Here</a> are instructions for how to do that. Or you can always just use your computer on campus.Great! When you click on "University of California, Los Angeles," which of the following do you see?
[[The book is available->UCLA has the book and it's available!]]
<img src="http://miriamposner.com/twine/available.png" width="80%" height="80%" alt="book is available">
[[The book is checked out->UCLA has the book, but it's checked out.]]
<img src="http://miriamposner.com/twine/checked_out.png" width="80%" height="80%" alt="book is available">
[[It says there's an ebook!]]
<img src="http://miriamposner.com/twine/ebook.png" width="80%" height="80%" alt="link to ebook">