Skip to Main Content

Library Essentials

ATU Finding Books & Other Library Items banner

 

Find out how to browse and locate books and more using the library search options.

 

What does the library have?

The library strives to provide excellent and relevant collections to support the learning, teaching, and research needs of the University including books, eBooks, journals, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, theses, exam papers, standards and more.

 

How can I find what I'm looking for?

The library offers various methods to help you access both online and print materials from our collections. Please keep in mind that no single search tool can retrieve all the available information or resources on a given topic. 

Search + Find is the library’s simple and fast default search engine that helps you discover relevant information on many topics from ATU Library’s print and online collections, with direct access to the full text of eBooks and eJournals.

Search + Find

Search for books, articles, news and more in our library discovery service.

The results from the search will tell you:

  • If we have the item in our collection, and if we have it, whether it's online or in print.
  • For books, you’ll see its location and class number; this will help you find it on the library shelves.
  • For eBooks and journal articles, simply click on the link to read it online or download.
  • If it is available or checked out; if checked out, the date it is due for return

 

Search Tips

  • Know what you're looking for? Use the author's surname and the book or article title. For example, research methods cohen
  • Browsing a topic? Use a few keywords. It's a good idea to be as specific as possible. For example, universal design education 
  • Use Refine Results to filter to books, eBooks or journal articles.  

 

Every print item in our collections have a classification or shelf or class number associated with the subject of the title. The LibGuides for each subject area will give you some examples of classification numbers for that subject area. Here is the classification in broad terms, and our campus floors plans will show you the locations:

  • 000 Generalities
  • 100 Philosophy & psychology
  • 200 Religion
  • 300 Social sciences
  • 400 Language
  • 500 Natural sciences & mathematics
  • 600 Technology (Applied sciences)
  • 700 The arts
  • 800 Literature & rhetoric
  • 900 Geography & history

Other Search Options

ATU Library Search Options

What should I do if I can’t find the item I am looking for?

  • Check the status to see if the item is out on loan to someone else - you will see a due date given if that is the case.
  • Check the re-shelving areas. These are in all our libraries and are where books are taken before they are re-shelved.
  • Re-check the shelves again after a few hours or the next day. Another user may have been using the item within the library.
  • Check to see if the item is held in one of our other libraries.
  • If in doubt, ask! We will look for the item for you and let you know the outcome. 

Library@atu.ie