The UW WorldCat catalog provides access to books, periodical and serial holdings, and other materials in the University of Washington Libraries. Computers located in the elevator corridor and in the reference area provide access to the catalog and other UW databases through the Libraries' Web site, and to other library catalogs through the Internet.
Internal locations include:
Check with library staff about other locations.
Related materials may be located in the Natural Sciences Library, Engineering Library, Chemistry Library, Mathematics Research Library, and the Odegaard Undergraduate Library. Many older materials are located in Auxiliary Stacks and may be requested through UW WorldCat or at the circulation desk.
Books are shelved by call number in the General Stacks using the Library of Congress (LC) system. For example:
Bound periodicals are shelved alphabetically by title in the Periodicals stacks area. Unbound periodical issues are shelved on the display shelves in the Reading Room.
Print reference materials such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks and statistical compilations are shelved in the Reference area, as are periodical indexes such as Physics Abstracts and Astronomy and Astrophysics Abstracts. Other reference materials are available through the Internet.
You must have current University of Washington identification to borrow library materials. The library cashier in Suzzallo Library can provide information on borrowing for persons not affiliated with the University.
Staff at the circulation desk check out library materials, renew loans, answer basic information questions, search for missing materials, and place holds on items that are checked out.
Astronomy periodicals circulate for one week; physics periodicals circulate for three days.
Instructors may place course-related material on reserve to facilitate student access. Requests to place material on reserve for lower division classes should be placed with the Odegaard Undergraduate Library. Requests for reserve material for upper division and graduate classes may be placed using the Online Reserve Request Form. More information is available on the Faculty Reserve Information Page.
Reserve materials are listed on the Uw-only Catalog and can be searched by course or professor under "Course Reserves". Reserve materials should be requested by call number at the circulation desk, and can be checked out for two hours or for overnight at 1.5 hours before closing time. Reserve materials for lower division classes are available at the Odegaard Undergraduate Library Reserves.
Wheelchair access to the Physics/Astronomy Building is through the main entrance from the plaza. Lobby elevators provide access to the library on the sixth floor of the tower.
Assistance in the retrieval of books or in the use of other library tools and resources may be requested at the circulation desk.
A copy machine taking Husky Cards or Dawg-Prints Cards is located at the north end of the Periodical stacks. For off-campus visitors, Dawg-Prints Cards in the amount of $5 may be purchased at the nearby dispenser. We regret that the copy machine no longer accepts coins. A copy center is located in the Communications Building (B042).
