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University Libraries for First-Year Engineers: Does the library have my textbook?

Ask our Engineering, Math & Physics Librarians

Engineering, Science and Design Librarian

Check Out Books

BuffonecardYour BuffOne Card or photo ID will serve as your library card. 

Current CU students, staff and faculty: most items up to 6 months

View all information about loan periods  

Your textbook may be in the library

Follow the steps below to see if the library has your textbook.
If we do have it, it will be free to use! 
To buy or rent your textbooks, visit the CU Boulder Bookstore logo .

oneSearch for your textbook in course reserves

Course Reserves are the books, ebooks, films and other class materials assigned by your instructor that the library makes available to you.

Screenshot of course reserves search

 

If you get a result, the library has course materials that you can access!

Screenshot of an example course reserve

Example course reserve book that is in the EMP Library

Print book course reserves will be listed at one of the Libraries. To check it out, bring your Buff OneCard to the desk at the library the book is in and ask to check it out.

You can borrow if for a limited amount of time, for example for 4 hours. Course reserves books are checked out for a limited amount of time so that the whole class can have access to the book all semester. 

Screenshot of an example ebook course reserve

Example course reserve ebook

Ebook course reserves have an online location. Click on the "full text" link to read it online.  Some ebooks allow you to download part, or all, of the ebook. Some ebooks do not allow downloads but can be read in the browser instead. Streaming videos can be viewed in your browser.

twoSearch for your textbook in OneSearch

Sometimes we have the book in our collection, but your instructor has not put it on Course Reserve.

Get the full title of your textbook from your syllabus (you may also want to get the author's name, especially if the book has a common name like Calculus).

Search for the title (and author's last name):

 

threeTell your instructor about course reserves

If you do not find your textbook in the library, we encourage you to tell your instructor that the libraries can (usually) make the textbook available through course reserves. Share this information about course reserves with your instructor and encourage them to fill out the course reserves request form.