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University of Padua
University Library System
University Library System
ITA

Books

How to search

GalileoDiscovery is the catalogue of the University Library System and the main tool for searching for books and journals owned by the libraries of the University and the city of Padova.
The search starts with keywords that are usually part of a title or related to the topic of the search.
It is free and accessible online to independently find books of interest by answering the questions:

  • Does the University have the book or journal I am searching for and in which edition?
  • In which library is it located?
  • Where is the library and what are the opening hours?
  • Is the book loanable and under what conditions?
  • What is its shelf location?

See, in particular, the Find a Book tutorial.

 

The shelfmark

Books are arranged on shelves according to the according to the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) scheme.
The shelfmark (or call number) provides the user with the exact location of the book on the shelf.

For each print book and journal the catalogue indicates its location on library shelves

in this example, 621.3.68, consists of two parts:

  • the first part, 621.3, is the Dewey class number that identifies the subject of the book and the section on the shelf;
  • the second part, the last number of the string, .68, identifies the exact position of the book within the section and increases in chronological order.

In this way, once the class has been identified, inside it we find a chronological ordering of the volumes from left to right on the shelf.

 

Access to material

In the reading rooms books are freely accessible on open shelves.
Books with the shelfmark "SILOS ..." must be requested at the reception service.

It is good practice not to reshelve the books and journals but to put them on the book trolley so the staff can replace them correctly.

 

Electronic books - eBooks

The University Library System offers a rich collection of books in electronic form, available online and searchable through GalileoDiscovery and on the MLOL - Media Library Online platform.
See the consultation information here.