If you need help finding a book, ask at the circulation desk. As long as you know the title of the book or the author, we will be able to look it up for you and tell you if we have it in the building, as an eBook, or via OhioLINK.
If you found a book in the catalog that we have but you aren't sure how to find it on the shelf, put a request in for the book, or ask us for the book at the desk.
The search box on the library website main page - called WC Discover - is the starting point to search our library catalog as well as OhioLINK.
OhioLINK is a state-wide academic library consortium - all the academic libraries in the state of Ohio, and many of the public libraries, share resources through OhioLINK. This means that if we don't have a book at Watson Library, but another college library (like OSU or Kent State) has a copy, you have the ability to request and borrow that copy. Group purchasing through OhioLINK also gives us our excellent database and journal access.
To request books in WC Discover, you must be signed in - we use single sign in, so you will authenticate through your Microsoft Office 365 login information. The sign-in option is in the upper right corner of the screen, and you will also be prompted with a banner to sign in so you get complete results.
Once you are signed in, you will see the option to "request a copy" of any book that is available. All you need to do is click the request button.
When a book you've requested arrives, an email will be sent to your WC email account letting you know the book is available at the circulation desk in the library for you to pick up.
All Watson Library books will have a call number on the spine. This number indicates where the book is located on the shelves.
Call numbers are based on the subject of the book, so books on the same subject will have similar call numbers and be located in the same area.
Watson Library uses Library of Congress Classification to organize and shelve our books. This is different from the Dewey Decimal System, which you might be familiar with from your high school library or public library.
Library of Congress call numbers are organized alphabetically, and then numerically. They look like this: PS2384 .M63 1998
For a list of subject areas under the Library of Congress Classification System, go HERE.
If you want to know where to look for books on your subject, ask at the circulation desk - we can usually find you the exact shelf that has the relevant books.
Our Main collection is upstairs
Our Quaker collections are upstairs - the rooms are locked, so ask at the desk for these books
Our Juvenile and YA; Lew Marcuson; Reference; Periodical (magazines and journals); and AV (DVD's and CD's) collections are downstairs.
Books are checked out for six weeks and renewed up to six times, unless there are holds on the book.