What can you do at the library?
  • Research
  • Study
  • Read for pleasure
  • Get help with your assignments
  • Learn through study groups
  • Have conversations with friends
  • Enjoy a beverage or snack from Starbucks
How do I check out books?
  • To check out books, show your UWA ID card at the circulation desk
  • There is no limit on the number of books that may be checked out
  • Pay careful attention to the due date; late fines are 25¢ per day, per book
  • There is a red book drop outside the front doors of the library for after hour book returns
What is an interlibrary loan?

If you can’t find a book you’re looking for, and it’s not a textbook, you can request an interlibrary loan (ILL). This is a service between many academic libraries and UWA that allows UWA students access to nearly unlimited resources.

How do I print documents at the library?
  • Printers are located throughout the library for student use
  • The library has an Add-Value machine to put money on your ID card
  • You can also add money with a debit/credit card via computer
  • Printing is 6¢/page for black and white copies, and 36¢/page for color prints.
  • The printer asks for a PIN number, which is the last 4 digits of your Social Security number
  • The photocopier is 10¢/page
  • The library can only give change for up to $5
What resources are available on the first floor?

Books are checked out downstairs at the Circulation/Reference desk. The downstairs also houses the journals that are not online, the Reference Collection, study rooms, a computer lab (for use by students and faculty), the Pate Collection, interlibrary loan (ILL), a gathering place, and Starbucks. Study rooms are booked in-person or by calling the main Library number (205-652-3613) at least 24 hours before the room is needed. Only faculty can book the computer lab.

What resources are available on the second floor?

The upstairs houses the stacks (i.e. fiction and non-fiction books that can be checked out), the Alabama Room (Special Collections), staff offices, study tables and carrels, and a comfortable seating area.

How are books organized in the library?

The library’s books are organized with the Dewey Decimal system into call numbers. Call numbers are the numbers and letters on the spine of a book indicating its location.

Books are divided into categories by 100s.    000, 100, 200, 300 etc. up to 900. Then the books are further numbered to reflect the specific topic.

For example, all Medicine will be shelved in the 600s. Nursing test prep questions will be found in 610.73076. The 2nd line of the call number is the author’s cutter number. It will be the 2nd part of the call number on any book that author writes.

Go to “Find Books” on the library’s homepage to type in a book to look up.