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Finding Items in the UMass Amherst Libraries Collections
Find a book
Use the Quick Search box on the left side of the library’s home page, or for more search options, go directly to the Five Colleges Libraries Catalog.
Locate books in the stacks
Use the library catalog to find the availability, call number, and location of a book, either in the W.E.B. Du Bois Library or the Integrated Sciences and Engineering Library. To locate a book in the W.E.B. Du Bois Library, see the Call Number Location chart. If you do not find the book on the shelf, please stop by the Circulation Office for help.
Find an article on my topic
Start with the Research Databases list and select a subject. The most recommended databases for that subject are listed at the top (Best Bets), with related databases listed below. Choose one based on the best match for your topic. If you have a general topic or you’re not sure where to start, try Academic Search Premier. Alternatively, you can ask a librarian.
Retrieve an article
Full-text of an article may be available online from the database you’re searching, or through another library database. Look for UMLinks in the citation to get a list of options for obtaining the article. How to Locate Materials from Databases provides more information about retrieving articles.
Find out if a particular journal, magazine, or newspaper is available from UMass Amherst
To find electronic journals, magazines, and newspapers, search the Library’s E-Journals list. Search the Library catalog with the Journal Title Search option for print and electronic periodicals.
Find a print, media, or music reserve
Print, media, and music materials selected by faculty for students in specific courses can be found through a Reserves search of the UMA Library Catalog. Check out print and media reserve items at the Reserves/Media Desk on the 3rd Floor of the Du Bois Library. Use Music Reserve items in the Music Reserve Lab, Fine Arts Center, Room 149A.
Find an electronic reserve
Electronic Reserves has scanned materials selected by faculty for students in specific courses. Electronic Reserves are available 24/7 from any computer with Internet access. You will need to login with a password. Passwords may only be given out by instructors. They are always lower case and are specific for your course. Passwords are not available from the library.
Find audio or video materials
Search the Five Colleges Libraries Catalog for DVDs/Videos/Films at UMass (under the “More” tab in the catalog). For audio materials, do an Advanced Search and limit by format and location.Find Images
The Image Collection Library lists and rates image resources.
Donate materials to the Library
If you wish to donate materials to the Library, contact James R. Kelly, Humanities Bibliographer, at (413) 545-3981 or jrkelly@library.umass.edu.
Request that the library acquire a book
The Libraries welcome suggestions for titles to consider purchasing. Your suggestion will be evaluated based on the Libraries' collection development policy and current budgetary constraints. All library users are welcome to suggest items that should be added to the collections by submitting recommendations through the Recommend a Purchase form.
Last Edited: 18 August 2009
