1. "How do I find out if the library owns a specific book?"
2. "I need books on a certain topic. Does the library own any?"
3. "How do I find dissertations?"
4. "How do I borrow dissertations from other universities?"
5. "How can someone from outside the Cornell community borrow/purchase a Cornell University dissertation?"
6. "Where in the Management Library do I go to find a book, once I have a call number?"
7. "The book I need is owned by another library on campus. How can I get this book?"
8. "How do I find audio & video recordings on tape or CD?"

1.  "How do I find out if the library owns a specific book?"

Search the Library Catalog for the particular book. The catalog record will indicate which campus libraries hold that book. Some books will be part of the collections of several libraries on campus. 

For example, if you want to see if the Cornell library has Richard Beatty's 1997 book The Perfect Cover Letter, click the "Basic" search type button and then perform a "title" search for "perfect cover letter". You'll see that this publication is available for loan from the Management Library's Career Planning Collection and there is also a non-circulating copy at Uris Library. Write down the call number given by the Catalog; you will need this to find the book.

2.  "I need books on a certain topic. Does the library own any?"

Topics covered in depth by the Management Library's collection include accounting, commerce, corporate data, economics, finance, information systems, investments, management, marketing, organizational behavior, personell administration, quantitative methods, and management. Search the Library Catalog to determine if we have items on your specific topic.

For example, to find materials about European venture capital, click the "Guided Keyword" button and then type "europe? venture capital?" in the search box. (Note: The question mark searches on variant word endings, e.g. capital, capitalist, etc.)

3.   "How do I find dissertations?"

To find dissertations published here at Cornell, Search the Library Catalog.

• For example, to find the Johnson School dissertation written by Robert David in 2001, click the "Guided Keyword" search type button and then type "robert david thesis" in the search box. To find Cornell theses on a particular topic, perform a Guided Keyword search on the topic and include the word "thesis" in your search, e.g. "management consulting thesis." All Johnson School theses are shelved together in the Brooks Reading Room on the second floor of the library.

• To search for Cornell dissertations published 1996-present, connect to the UMI Dissertation Database. Members of the Cornell community have free access to PDF versions of the dissertations.
• Not all Cornell theses published before 1973 are included in the Library Catalog. If you are looking for a pre-1973 Cornell thesis and cannot find it in the Library Catalog, contact reference for further help.

To find theses published worldwide, search Dissertation Abstracts Online.

For additional help locating dissertations and theses, consult the Research Strategy Help Page developed by the Cornell Library system.

4.  "How do I borrow dissertations from other universities?"

Many institutions will loan theses through Interlibrary Loan. First-time users of interlibrary loan will need to register (registration is free).

If the university library cannot borrow a dissertation for you, you may be able to purchase a copy from University Microfilms International (UMI).

If you can't find the dissertation you are seeking (this might particularly be the case if it is from a foreign university) please contact reference for further help.

5.  "How can someone from outside the Cornell community borrow/purchase a Cornell University dissertation?"

Non-Cornell individuals may borrow Cornell dissertations through Interlibrary Loan. To initiate this process, individuals should contact the reference staff at the academic or local public library with which they are affiliated. Cornell dissertations may also be purchased from University Microfilms International (UMI). Unbound photocopies of older dissertations not available through UMI may be purchased through Cornell's Interlibrary Loan department. Contact reference for more information.

6.  "Where in the Management Library do I go to find a book, once I have a call number?"

Library materials can be found on all three floors of the Management Library.  Specifically:

• First Floor - reference materials; Career Planning items; course reserve materials (ask at Circulation Desk); current periodicals; new acquisitions; and recent newspapers.
  
  
• Second Floor - oversized items (indicated by a + or a ++ symbol in the call number); and Johnson School Theses.
  
  
• Third Floor - materials whose call number matches A - Z; all microfiche (including our microfiche collection of annual reports); and all microfilm.

7.  "The book I need is owned by another library on campus. How do I get this book?"

Books can only be checked out of the library that owns them. If you're unfamiliar with a particular library's location on campus, consult our online map.

8.   "How do I find audio and video recordings on tape or compact disc?"

The Cornell University Libraries own a variety of audio and video tapes and CDs, however finding them in the Library Catalog can be a challenge. The Olin-Kroch-Uris Library reference desk has created a guide for tracking these recordings down.

Still can't find the answer you're looking for? Send a question to Ask A Librarian or stop by the reference desk during reference hours.