How to Check-out a Book from the Library

Good afternoon. Today I am going to talk about how to check out a book from the library. We all read books for our study, work, and life. Although we have some books of ours, many books are available only in libraries. So we need to know how to find and check out books from a library. First, you can use the online library catalog to find a book you want. On the online catalog, you can find a book by selecting TITLE, AUTHOR, SUBJECT, KEYWORD,CALL NUMBER etc. In the drop down menu you can type in what you are looking for. You can also select which specific
library you would like to search from a drop-down menu.

Next, once you have a book, you need to write down the call number. In order to locate the book, you need to understand the call number. Most academic Libraries now use the Library of Congress classification system to arrange the book stacks. In this system, all call numbers begin with a letter or letters in alphabetical order, that is A,B,C,… followed by numerous numbers. Once you have found the correct letter, you can write it on the small paper, and you need to find where the book is located in the library. According to the call number, you can find the right aisle and shelf to pick up the book. I am showing you a Chinese book: Chinese Dim Sum in Pictures in the classroom. (pass it around)I tell them that the book’s call numbers are on the book’s spine, and I send the book’s call number to every one, then let them follow me as I read the Call Number: see, the first letters in alphabetic order are TX with the numbers:724.5; and the next line of the call# is C5, and the next call number line is J53x. the location is Will Library, language: Chinese. If you look one by one at each line of the call number, you’ll easily find your book, because the call number is a book’s address in a library.

Finally, in order to check out the book you wanted, you must first have a library card. So, make sure you have your library card with you before going to the circulation desk. When you are at the desk, tell the library staff member that you would like to check out a book. You must pay attention to the due date, and return or renew the book by that time.

Now, you can take the book home and read it!