The Library provides students with reliable access to all of the materials required for their courses. These materials can include books, journals, magazines, newspapers, and DVDs.
Find the Book You Need
The authors and titles of required course materials are listed in the course syllabus. Some instructors also provide the publication year, the publisher, and/or the ISBN of a particular title. This information can help locate the specific edition of the book you need.
To see if the item you need is available,
- Find the author and title provided on the course syllabus
- Look up the call number, which contains letters and numbers (e.g., KF8745.S67 A3 2013) and is not the same as an ISBN, by
- entering the author and title in OneSearch, or
- showing the call number or the author and title to the Library staff
Use Course Reserves
Instructors may place course materials on reserve, for students to use in the Library only. These materials can include books, audiobooks, journals, magazines, newspapers, and DVDs.
Reserves may be checked out for up to 3 hours. To check out a course reserve, students should request the book or course material they need at the Circulation Desk. Please note: Due to processing and delivery delays, not all materials will be available for use on the first day of class.
Overdue reserve materials may result in fines, suspended borrowing privileges and/or database access, or a block on the user’s Library account.
Portions of books may be copied or scanned on the machines in the Library. Click here for more information on copying and scanning in the Library.
Check Out Books
Students may check out books for four weeks at a time. Faculty and staff have longer loan periods. Reserve and Reference materials do not circulate and may be used only in the Library.
Buy or Rent Books
Students have the option to buy their books through the Guttman online bookstore, Akademos. CUNY has additional resources for students to gain access to books and course materials, including other library listings, multiple online booksellers, book swaps, and renting books.