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FAQ

We are excited to share our new Library catalog and search tool! We hope that you will find it easy to search and explore our collections. If you need help, have questions, or want to share feedback, visit the Ask a Librarian page.

Books, articles, & more

The Vassar College Libraries contain more than one million volumes and many different types of materials. From books to videos to digital data sets to expert help, the Libraries have the information you need.

How do I Find Materials in Discover or the catalog?

Use our Search Options guide for information about the best resources to use to find the materials you need.

Search Discover or the online catalog by author, title, subject, or keyword for books, government documents, journals, musical scores, audio recordings, videos and other items Vassar owns.

Tip: “author” is any name associated with the item: editor, translator, actor, composer, performer, etc.

Try Keyword first if you don't know what subject to search for. Check subject headings at the bottom of the record to find other items on the same subject.

Tip: to get suggestions for alternate spellings use an Author or Subject search and not Keyword.

Identify the item's

call number (where is it on the shelf?)
location (Which library is it in? Which room?)
status (has it been checked out?)

Find it:

For Main Library items: use the Guide to Locations to find call numbers and rooms. Print copies are available at the Main Library Circulation Desk.
For Music Library items: use the Location and Guide to Call Numbers and the Music Library Maps on the Music Library website.

Items on reserve

Do you need to find materials on reserve? Faculty members set aside books and other materials for classes to use. These materials are in the library and their library location will be marked as "Main Reserve," "Art Reserve," or "Music Reserve" in the library's catalog and in Discover. Main Reserve items can be retrieved from the Main Circulation desk and Art Reserve items from the tables and study rooms near the Art Library Circulation desk. Music Reserve items are located at the Circulation Desk in the Music Library, Skinner Hall of Music.

For Main and Art Reserves: learn more about the Reserves Department and how long you can use materials on reserve
For Music Reserves: See Circulation & Reserve Services for more information.

Find reserve materials

ConnectNY and Interlibrary Loan

If the material you need is not here, you can request it via Interlibrary Loan. ConnectNY will send materials quickly to Vassar, but other options are available.

Interlibrary loan (ILL) and ConnectNY