All UM System libraries have added their books to a catalog that can be searched at UMSL using Discover@UMSL. Print books can be requested by UMSL patrons from any UM System library and delivered to TJ Library. Print books can also be requested through MOBIUS (a large consortium of libraries in the Midwest) or Interlibrary Loan.
Electronic books (eBooks) are another matter. Due to licensing restrictions set by publishing companies, eBooks purchased by other libraries usually cannot be viewed or requested by UMSL patrons. To search for specific UMSL eBooks by title, see the Journals & Ebooks by Title page of this guide.
On the library homepage (umsl.edu/library), type in your keywords and hit enter or click the Search button.
Your initial results will include articles, eBooks, print books, videos, government documents, and other items.
A To focus your search primarily on print books, select Books from the Source Type filter.
B The icon for each book will show the book cover if it’s available in the system.
C Status and due date refer to whether the book is "available" or "on loan" and when it is due back.
D The location and call number columns show the book’s physical location—either inside our library building or at another library in the UM System. The call number indicates exactly where the book can be located on the shelves. (If you need help locating a shelved book, ask at the Service Desk or see the Library Building & Amenities Guide for TJ Library’s floor plans.
E The More link will toggle open a list of other UM System libraries that own the same book. UMSL usually appears at the BOTTOM of the list.
F Click the Place Hold button to have a book pulled and held for you behind the Service Desk. (This may take a few days, especially if the book is coming from another campus. See more about this action on the Requesting Print Books page.
G Click Access Options to see a table of contents or other descriptive data about a print book, as well as the Place Hold link.
Electronic books come from many different vendors (such as EBSCO, JSTOR, and Wiley). Sometimes we purchase them individually, but often they come to us in vendor-curated packages that we don’t control.
H To focus your search on eBooks, select eBooks from the Source Type filter.
I In the citation line below the item's title, just after the author's name, you'll see the series the book is a part of (if applicable) and the publication date.
J The database containing the book appears at the end of the citation information.
K To see the book's details, click the title.
L Each book's publisher sets limits on how many people can view the book at one time and how much of it can be downloaded. The library has no control over this! Permissions can be viewed for all EBSCO eBooks, but they're not the same for every title! They include:
Non-EBSCO books (such as JSTOR, ProQuest, Gale, and Springer) don't always make their permissions clear.
M The table of contents can help you navigate within the book.
N Access options for eBooks will include a PDF, EPUB, or online full text link. Click the Download button to see if you are allowed to download some or all of the book.
