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Albert S. Cook Library

How to Start Your Research

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Cook Library has experienced librarians and library assistants ready to help, no matter where you are!

 

 

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You can also:

On this page, you should learn to:

  1. Find Ebooks using Cook OneSearch
  2. Create a basic search for a book in Cook OneSearch​
  3. Distinguish between books at TU and books at other libraries
  4. Read and understand call numbers to find a book on the shelf
  5. Use the Library of Congress classification system to search for books on a subject in person

Find Ebooks Using Cook OneSearch

This video, "Find Ebooks with Cook OneSearch," from the Albert S. Cook Library, discusses how to search for books and limit by format, as well as how to view the ebook if it is available. This video runs 3:29 and was last updated in October 2024.

Finding Children's Books

This video shows how you can use Cook OneSearch to find books in the children's collections at Towson University's Cook Library and at TU Northeast (TUNE). It runs 1:20 and was last updated in September 2024.

Read a Call Number

Call numbers are like addresses for books in the library. They are used to arrange the books on the library’s shelves so every book has a specific location.

Anatomy of a Call Number

Here's a breakdown of the call number TK5105.887 .P63 2008

TK Read the beginning letters in alphabetical order.
5105.887 Read the first number (including decimal points) in numerical order.
.P63 The next piece is a combination of letters and numbers. Read the letter alphabetically and the number as a decimal.
2008 This is the year the book was published, which can be helpful if there are multiple editions of the book.

Use the Library of Congress System

The books in Cook Library are organized using the Library of Congress Call Classification System. Cook's circulating collection begins on the 5th floor with call number range A-K and continues onto the 4th floor with books in the call number range L-Z and our juvenile books collection. Library floor plans and directory information can be found on our Building Directory page.

Library of Congress Classification At-a-Glance

 

5th Floor of Cook Library has Books A-K:

 

A - General Works (Encyclopedias, Directories, Indexes)

B - Philosophy, Psychology, Religion

C - Auxiliary Sciences of History (Archeology, Numismatics, Biography)

D - General & Eastern History

E - American History

F - Western History

G - Geography, Anthropology, Recreation 

H - Social Sciences & Business

J - Political Science

K - Law

What you'll also find:

Maps and Atlases, Oversized books A-K, REF Books A-K, Special Collection (Archives)

 

 

4th Floor of Cook Library has books L-Z:

 

L - Education

M - Music

N - Fine Arts

P - Languages & Literature, Poetry (Graphic Novels in subclass PN6700)

Q - Science 

R - Medicine

S - Agriculture 

T - Technology (railroads, Construction, Electrical Engineering)

U - Military Science

V - Naval Science

Z - Library Science, Bookmaking, Typography

What you'll also find:

Oversized books L-Z, REF Books L-Z, Juvenile and Children's Collection.