Print books are available at all of our campus libraries - Library Core and Library Creative at Stoke, and the Library Centre for Health Innovation at Stafford.
Books are organised in number order using the Dewey Decimal System. Each number relates to a subject, so when you find the number of a book and you go to that number on the shelves, you will find other books on that subject at the same number. Shelf ends are labelled with the numbers for books on that shelf.
There are three steps to locating a book within the library:
1. Search for the book using the Library Search on our web pages.
2. Check the book's call number and location, and if it is available. Make a note of the title, author and call number/classmark, and which collection the book is stored in. The call number (or classmark) tells you exactly where the item will be located on the shelves. Each book has a call number on its spine followed by the first three letters of the author's last name.
3. Use library signage to find your way around the Library to locate the area where the book you want is shelved. Books are arranged in numerical order by call number, then in alphabetical order by author. Locate the section where the call number of your book begins - for example, if you were searching for call number 507.11, start by locating the 500s, then narrow your search to the 507s and so on. Then look along the shelves in order until you find the three letters.
The loan period is generally 2 weeks, but there are some that cannot be loaned. Most users can borrow up to 17 books at a time. The book is automatically renewed if nobody has requested it or it has reached the maximum renewals limit (6 months). There is a recall charge of £1.00 per day for any items not returned by the due date.
Remember if the book you want is on loan you can request it.
