Finding Books
The Cornell University Library uses the Library of Congress classification system.
How to find a book
Narrowing results
On the library catalog search page, the "Limit your Search" function provides options to help you narrow your search results including how you'd like to access resources (online, physical) and in what format (book, journal/periodical, microform, etc.).
How to search
One of the hardest things about looking for materials, especially in a big library, is finding the right way to search for material. Try this search tutorial to learn about improving your search "game' when it comes to using the Cornell Library catalog:
How to Use Search Terms
Special help finding exhibition catalogs
- CatalogsFrom the Cornell Art History & Visual Studies research guide
Catalogs: Learn to search library catalogs effectively to locate books and other relevant materials
Example Record
Subject Browse
Use the Subject Browse feature to discover books in the catalog :
Du Bois, W. E. B. (William Edward Burghardt), 1868-1963.
Exposition universelle (1900 : Paris, France)
African Americans > Social conditions > To 1964 > Pictorial works.
Other helpful subject terms: Criticism and interpretation; Photography, Artistic; Exhibitions.
Sylvan Barnet
A Short Guide to Writing about Art. Latest edition (print) by Call Number: Fine Arts Library Reference (Non-Circulating) N7476 .B37 2015ISBN: 9780205886999Publication Date: 2014-01-15
A Short Guide to Writing about Art, 2003 edition by Call Number: N7476 .B37x 2003ISBN: 0321101448Publication Date: 2002-05-21
A Short Guide to Writing about Art, 6th ed. (2000) by Call Number: N7476 .B37x 2000ISBN: 0321046056Publication Date: 1999-08-18
A Short Guide to Writing about Art, 5th ed. (1997) by Call Number: N7476 .B25 1997ISBN: 0673524876Publication Date: 1997-01-01
Guides to Writing for Exhibitions
Exhibiting Cultures by Call Number: Olin Library AM151 .E94x 1991ISBN: 1560980206Publication Date: 1991-05-01
Exhibit Labels: An Interpretive Approach by Call Number: OnlineISBN: 9781442249042Publication Date: 2015-06-04
- "Your Labels Make Me Feel Stupid"Gregg, Gail. "Your Labels Make Me Feel Stupid" Art News Summer 2010
Looking for books not held by Cornell
If the book you are looking for is unavailable through Cornell, you can search WorldCat, an international catalog that includes Cornell's holdings, from the library catalog results page by clicking the "Request from Libraries Worldwide" link.
What to do if it's not available
If the catalog record indicates that the material is "charged," it means that someone else has signed out the book. When you click on "request," the system figures out the fastest way to get it to you. If it's a recall, that takes about two weeks. Borrow Direct is the fastest delivery:
If we do not have a book in our holdings, or if the book you need is already checked out: Borrow Direct
Click on the link to connect to Borrow Direct, search for the book and if it's available from another Ivy League university (plus: Johns Hopkins, MIT, Duke, University of Chicago, & Stanford), we will have it shipped to Cornell. The borrowing period is for eight weeks, renewable once. Books arrive in a week or less.
If we do not have an item that you need (any item -- journal article, DVD, dissertation, etc.): Interlibrary Loan Services
Use ILLiad (InterLibrary Loan Internet Accessible Database) to request that we borrow materials from other libraries or have articles scanned for you. Loan period is usually one month. Items can arrive in as little as a few days (or even the next day, in the case of scans) to a couple of weeks (This service will not work for items that Cornell already owns, but are checked out by other borrowers).