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Mechanical Engineering Research Guide: Find a Book!

Guide to resources in mechanical engineering.

Find a Book: Step by Step

Use the Catalog

Search

  • Use an author's name, book title, or subject words

Limit to Source Type

  • Limit to books
  • Other types that might be useful include
    • Theses & Dissertations
    • Book Chapters
    • Government Documents

Find relevant books

  • Click the title of the book to find more information including subject headings and, sometimes, a table of contents
  • Put a book in a list to remember
    • Click the pushpin icon to remember the book

Note the location

  • Make sure the book is "Available"
  • Note the LOCATION (indicated in all capitals)
  • Note the (call number) (indicated in parentheses)

Library Locations

Locations in the Library

  • BOOKS/UPPER LEVEL
  • RESERVES/MAIN LEVEL
  • GOVT DOC/LOWER LEVEL
  • GOVT DOC FICHE/LOWER LEVEL
  • PERIODICALS/LOWER LEVEL
  • REFERENCE/MAIN LEVEL
  • RABBIT READS/MAIN LEVEL
  • SD COLLECTION (ARCHIVES)/UPPER LEVEL
  • SDSU ARCHIVES/UPPER LEVEL

How to read a call number

Books have an address just like your home. Like your home address, the book's address (or call number) tells you precisely where the book is located. Each portion of the call number builds on the past sections.

Call numbers begin with one to three letters. These letters are filed alphabetically.

L → LB → LC

The letters are followed by a number. This number is read as if it were on a number line.

1 → 2 → 10 → 50.25 → 500 → 500.1 → 2005

The second line often begins with a decimal and a letter. Ignore the decimal at first; the letter is filed alphabetically. This is followed by a number. The number is read as if it is a decimal after the first digit (e.g. .H56 is read H five point six)

.G8 → .H5 → .H56 → .H6 → .L5

There may be more lines to a call number. Call numbers with nothing in a line go before call numbers with something in a line.

L101     L101     L101
.G8        .G8       .G8
              Y4        Y4
                           1959

E-book collections

We have several collections of electronic books. You can find them in the library catalog or browse these collections.

Search for books, articles, & media

Request a Book Through Interlibrary Loan from WorldCat

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