REFERENCE DESK
Reference is a service provided by libraries to the public. Anyone can ask for help on how to locate the information they need. Typical questions asked at the reference desk include how to use the library catalogue, how to find journal or newspaper articles or which sources are best for a particular topic.

Each York University Library (YUL)* has a REFERENCE DESK. In Scott it is on the
second floor.

EXIT DESK IN SCOTT LIBRARY

In Scott, questions regarding photocopiers, security, items lost or found may be asked at the EXIT desk. It is located by the photocopy room, near the entrance/exit to the library on the first floor.

RESOURCE SHARING / INTERLIBRARY LOANS
This department "borrows", from other libraries, materials not found in YUL for use by York students and faculty.

To find a book or journal or video or any other items held by YUL use the library catalogue. The catalogue is a computerized library database containing a listing all the items in the York University Libraries.

A CALL NUMBER is a specific, unique label given to every item in a library. Call numbers usually consist of a combination of letters and numbers, for example PS 3553. H2765 M66. (For a more detailed explanation of call numbers, click here.)

For any item searched in the catalogue, a LOCATION section will appear at the bottom of the screen. By looking at this section, you can determine in which of our 5 libraries and their departments an item is held. For example, Scott-Micr, means Scott Library, Microtext area. (A detailed listing of location codes is available.)

The CIRCULATION DESK handles all aspects of signing out a book. Here you may get a library card, get a password/PIN to access User Status, check out a book, and/or deal with fines. It is near the entrance/exit of any YUL.

Somebody has a book you want? You can request a HOLD be placed on an item already signed out by completing an online form. Click on the HOLD button at the bottom of the screen (below the information about the book). Complete the form and a HOLD will be placed on that item. The book will be set aside for you once it is returned.

Faculty and graduate students can borrow books, on an EXTENDED LOAN, for 100 days.

To obtain a book signed out on extended loan, you can request it by completing the online HOLD form (see above).

Materials chosen by professors for a course or those in high demand are placed on RESERVE. They are allowed out only on a limited term, from 2 hours to 1 week. Any York student can sign out a "reserve" item.

PERIODICAL or SERIAL are the general terms for anything that is published on an on-going basis. This may include academic journals, newspapers, news magazines, etc.

An INDEX is an alphabetical listing of terms that describe the topics discussed in a particular item, such as a book or journal article.

PERIODICAL INDEXES and ABSTRACTS are sources used to find the journals, magazines, or newspapers that have the information you are seeking. An index, such as the Humanities Index has only the CITATION (author, title of article, periodical title, date, volume, pages) information used to find an article. ABSTRACTS have the citation plus a brief summary of the article. Some periodical indexes/abstracts also contain the FULL-TEXT of the journal. Full-text implies the entire article has been transferred from paper to electronic form, but on occasion, original photographs, charts or other information might be missing.

CD-ROM stands for "Compact Disc-Read Only Memory". Some periodical indexes or abstracts are on CD-ROM such as the Index to Jewish Periodicals.

The STACKS are the area of a library or department containing the shelves of books and bound periodicals.

BOUND PERIODICALS are magazines or academic journals which have had a hard cover put on them to hold them together.

CURRENT PERIODICALS are the journals, newspapers, etc. published in the current calendar year. They are usually found in an area separate from the bound periodicals.

MICROFORM is the general term for any material in either microfiche or microfilm.

MICROFICHE or FICHE, are flat, 4 x 6 film. Theses, books and historical documents are usually copied onto microfiche for preservation purposes.

A MICROFILM is a long, narrow strip of film rolled onto a reel. Newspapers and journals are usually copied onto microfilm.

MICROTEXT is the area where you'll find the microfiche and microfilm items held in YUL. In Scott, it is on the second floor.