How to Use Our Catalog

Find nearly everything owned by the Cornell University Library by searching the Cornell Library Catalog. This includes books, journals, magazines, newspapers, videotapes, audiotapes, music CDs, CD-ROMs, DVDs, manuscripts, microfilm, microfiche--in short, anything the Library owns.

This online catalog also allows you to recall or put a hold on items that are currently checked out by other library users. Clicking on the My Account link at upper right allows you to see what you have checked out; you can also renew your books from this page.

A book you might find using this catalog:

Some things to know about the Cornell Library Catalog:

  • It lists the holdings of all the Cornell libraries (Mann, Olin, Law, Uris, Catherwood, etc.).
  • You cannot find journal articles in this catalog. Only the titles of journals, magazines, and newspapers are listed along with the years and volumes that we own. To find articles, click on the Finding Articles tab in this guide.
  • The Cornell Library Catalog uses the Library of Congress Call number system. These call numbers can help you locate books in the library stacks. 

What if we don't own it?

If we don't have a BOOK that you need or if we have the book but it's checked out:

Borrow Direct
Click on the link above, connect to Borrow Direct, search for the book and if it's available from another Ivy League university, we will have it shipped to Cornell. Borrowing period is 6 weeks, renewable once. Books arrive in 3-4 business days. (This service is for books only).

If we don't own an item that you need (any item -- journal article, DVD, dissertation, etc.)

Interlibrary Loan Service
If Cornell Library does not have an item you need, especially journal articles, use our interlibrary loan service to request a free scanned copy of the article you want. Directions for accessing these scans, usually PDFs, will arrive in your email in just a few days.

We invite you to check with the reference staff if you are having trouble finding a particular book or journal. We can help!