There are two main ways to obtain books at WCSU. Which method you use depends on what you need and how quickly you need the material.

The first option is use WestSearch, a discovery tool available on the library homepage. Using Advanced Search provides more options in your search. 

By default, your search will be limited to WCSU Libraries, but if desired you can expand your search to all Connecticut State Universities and College (CSCU) Libraries. In the Advanced Search setting, you can limit your search to Books. 

The second option is to use WorldCat. WorldCat is a catalog that searches libraries across the United States and beyond. If you find something in WorldCat you could order it through interlibrary loan.

If you know the title and author of a book you can order it, even if you do not find it in the catalog, through interlibrary loan.

You may request Interlibrary Loan service when the book you need is not available from the CSCU Libraries. Before requesting an Interlibrary Loan, please discuss your information needs with the librarian at the Reference Desk. We may be able to find other items which are currently available that may satisfy your information needs.

We use our own Library of Congress (LC) classification system for our call numbers. 

Library of Congress Classification

Physical copies of books are located on the fourth and fifth floors of the Haas Library.

• 4th Floor: Books, LC classed, call numbers A-N
• 5th Floor: Books, LC classed, call numbers P-Z

What's a call number and how do I use it?

Call numbers are the numbers you see on the spine and/or covers of the books in the Library and in the online catalog records for our materials. They are used to find and organize books and other materials on the shelves.

New to call numbers? Typically:

• Arrangement is by subject area (each letter indicates a subject area; for instance E is for American History)
• Shelves can be searched easily and quickly once a call number for a subject is known because the books on that subject are all grouped together
• Subject areas use letters A through Z
• Letters and numbers are used to provide a specific location on the shelves. They are arranged in alphabetical and then numerical order.
• Labels are usually located on the spine or the front cover of the materials and read left to right, and top to bottom. Shorter call numbers indicate general and broad works in a subject area. Example: a general work about biology would have this call number, QH308 .T33 - because the content is general and broad.
• Longer call numbers indicate works that are more specific or specialized. Example: a book Cells to Organ Systems would have this call number, QH501 .M53 - because the book's content is about a specific field of biology.

How to read a call number: QH308 .T33 2022

• QH308 - the subject area where the book is located
• .T33 - additional information about the book, sometimes more than one line.