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Frequently asked questions about the library catalog



This author died recently; are you ever going to show the death date as well as the birth date?


In most cases, death dates are not added to author entries in the catalog. The date of birth is included, when known, to help distinguish authors with identical names (try looking up William Smith as an author; there are several individuals with this name).

Our goal is to provide a unique entry for each author rather than to provide complete information about the author. National cataloging standards are guided by this principle, and along with most other libraries, we follow the national standards.

We realize that it can be disconcerting to see an open-ended date for an author who is known to have died, and that many people would like to see death dates added. It seems unlikely that national cataloging practices will change to incorporate such information. It would be very time consuming (and expensive) to continually update entries to include information that is of interest but not critical for the purposes of the library catalog. (If the date of death is known when we first create an entry for an author, it is included; this is why you will see some author entries with birth and death dates.)

Are theses and dissertations written at the University available in the library?


Students who write theses and dissertations as part of their degree programs give a copy of the work to the library. These works are fully cataloged like other books in the library. They can be found in the library's online catalog - Janus - by author, title, or subject search.

However, because theses and dissertations must be sent out for microfilming and then binding before they are ready to be cataloged, they may not appear on the shelves for up to a year after the degree was completed. If you need a UO thesis or dissertation which does not yet appear in the catalog, check with a reference librarian to see if it can be rushed.

For dissertations written since 1998, an electronic copy is available from Bell & Howell Learning and Information. These copies are available free to UO users. To search for an electronic version, go to http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/uoregon/main

Does the message "IN PROCESS"' for a book mean that I won't be able to get the book?


The "IN PROCESS" message means that the book has been received and cataloged by the Library. It is in the final process of being labeled and made ready for the shelf. Normally, books which are "IN PROCESS" will be available for circulation in a few days. If you want to see such a book as soon as it is ready, fill out a rush request at the Checkout Desk.

What does "1 copy being processed for KNIGHT (or AAA, Science, etc.) mean?


The message "1 copy being processed for KNIGHT (or AAA, Science, etc.)" means that a title has been received by the Library and is awaiting cataloging. The Library acquires materials in support of all academic programs, in a wide variety of languages and subjects. Sometimes these materials are not owned by any other library in the U.S. and providing the cataloging for these items takes longer than for many of the more commonly held items. If you want to check out a title that displays this message, contact a public service desk and ask to have it rush processed for you. In most cases, a title that has been requested as a rush will be available in 48 hours.

What does the "x" in front of this call number mean?


The "x" means the book is oversized. Library shelves are set at a spacing which allows efficient use of space. Books which stand taller than normal shelves allow are placed on special, taller shelves in most shelving locations. Some locations also use "xx" before a call number to indicate "extra oversize." Check maps or service desks at individual libraries for the location of oversize shelves in each library. Information about individual libraries within the University of Oregon can be found at: http://libweb.uoregon.edu/general/about/campusmap.html.

Maintained by: MSDP Webmaster, rfisher@uoregon.edu
Last Modified: 11/16/2007