How to Get Books & Documents

Classification scheme for science-related disciplines:

For a more detailed look at how the subjects are divided, see the Library of Congress Subject Headings behind the reference desk.

Other hints:

• For general textbooks on a particular topic do a keyword search: topic study teaching. This won't get you every textbook we have, but should help get you pointedin the right direction.
• Do a subject search. Another method that might work is to just browse in the oversize books. We have a number of textbooks in that area. At the very least, you should get a good idea of where to look in the Stacks.
• Use PubMed Bookshelf, a great collection of online text (esp. genetics, cell & micro) that are completely searchable.

How To Get Articles From Database Citations

When using most of the library's databases to identify appropriate articles on your topic, you will be able to link directly from the database to the article via ArticleLinker, the library's OpenURL resolver.

Clicking on the Check for fulltext at Reed link will open up a new window with your fulltext options. In most cases where fulltext is available from Reed, you will be able to link directly to the article.

How To Get Articles From Other Sources

If you are not using a database that works with ArticleLinker, or you used other means to identify appropriate articles on your topic, you must then determine if you can obtain access to the articles via the Reed College Library, or if you must use Interlibrary Loan.

Although most of the journals are listed in the library catalog, the Print & Electronic Journals list also includes thousands of journals we get as part of fulltext databases and journal collections that might not be in the catalog.

To use the list, select Print & E-Journals under Resources on the library web page.

Enter the journal title into the search box.

Once you have entered the journal title you are looking for, you will see Reed’s holdings (print and electronic) for the journal:

You can then use the links to view the journal online or the library catalog record:

Some databases will allow you to link to the catalog to check holdings directly. Others will indicate in the citation whether or not the library subscribes to a journal. In this case, it is still a good idea to check the journal title list directly.

If you aren't sure where something is located, check a library map, or ask at the reference desk.

Interlibrary Loan

If the article is not available from the Reed Library, your next step is to use Interlibrary loan (ILL). Some databases allow you to request an ILL directly from the database, but for some you will need to use Illiad, our new ILL system.

About 90% of the articles ILL receives are in electronic format. When an electronic copy of an article you requested arrives, you will receive an email notification with instructions for accessing the article online. If the article is sent in paper form, you will receive it via campus mail.

Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to use ILL as it could take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to receive your request.

If you need any assistance, please ask the Science Librarian, or another librarian.

Contact: Linda Maddux, Science Librarian & Janis Shampay, Biology Professor