Libraries are traditionally known for their book collections. Books are not going away anytime soon, but the format and methods of accessing them are changing.
Tips:
Do not be afraid to use books! A 400-page text might seem daunting, but, unless specifically stated in your assignment, it is not always necessary to read a book in its entirety for your research. Books cover broad areas, and a single chapter or section may provide sufficient information.
eBooks: The Sac State library subscribes to a number of ebook-specific databases and databases that offer ebooks in addition to other content. By default, eBooks are searched alongside physical books in OneSearch; you will see a direct link to the book in its listing.
Physical books: In order to make space for new technology and work spaces, many academic libraries are removing rarely used items from their physical collections. This means that the item you are looking for may only be available through another library. Please see tab in this guide on borrowing a book from another library for more information.
There are books in numerous collections and locations in the library.
| Collection | Contents | Organization System | Location |
| Circulating Books |
General fiction and non-fiction books We focus on having books on topics relating to subjects and fields of study taught at Sac State. |
Library of Congress |
A - H: Second Floor J - PR 1199: Third Floor PR 1200 - Z: Fourth Floor |
| Course Reserves | Course materials and textbooks that Sac State instructors have asked the library to hold. | Depends on type of item | First Floor service desk |
| Curriculum Collection | Guides, textbooks, and non-print. | Ascension number by subject | Second Floor |
| Government Documents | California, local, federal, Canada, and United Nations | Su Docs | Second Floor |
| Juvenile Collection | Picture books, juvenile fiction and non-fiction | Dewey Decimal System | Second Floor |
| Maps & Atlas Collection | Maps and atlases | Library of Congress | Second Floor |
| Quartos & Folios | Oversized circulating books | Library of Congress | Second Floor |
| Reference Collection | Encyclopedias, handbooks, dictionaries, bibliographies, directories, indexes, almanacs, statistical works. | Library of Congress | Second Floor |
| Special Collections & University Archives | Main collections: Japanese American Archival Collection, the Tsakopoulos Hellenic Collection, the Mexican American community in the Sacramento region. | Depends on type of item | First Floor (separate entrance) |
| Tsakopoulos Hellenic Collection | Modern and classical Greek circulating book collection, journal holdings, electronic resources, non-print media, rare books, archival materials, art, and artifacts. | Depends on type of item | Third Floor and First Floor in SCUA |
This guide was created by Sarah Davis
Spring 2018
