How do I find textbooks?
This page describes how to search the Pollak Library Catalog, Find Books,
or Course Reserves to locate class textbooks.
1. Before you start your search, you should know:
a) The title of the book
b) The edition of the book
c) The author of the book
Knowing the ISBN of the book will help make your search quicker and easier.
2. If you do not have this information, check your course syllabus or look it up at the
Titan Bookstore Web Site.
3. Pollak Library does not carry most current textbooks.
To check if we do have the one you are looking for, search the Library Catalog.
If you think your professor has placed a copy on reserve, go to
Course Reserves.
The Library Catalog can be accessed from the Library's home page under Quick Links (left side of screen).
4. Search by ISBN
Examples:
0671815911
0878935185
0538842946
5. Search by Title
Examples:
Principles of Conservation Biology
Accounting Principles and Applications
A History of American Law
6. If we do not own a copy, you can check library catalogs of other
libraries to see if a copy is available elsewhere. Please note that textbooks may
not be requested through Interlibrary Loan.
Go to
Find Books at
http://www.library.fullerton.edu/books/ and select Search
libraries worldwide.
Type in the ISBN or title. Search. Libraries that own the book will be listed in order of distance from
Cal State Fullerton.
If you find a library that owns the textbook you want, check that library's circulation policies to verify that they have a reciprocal lending agreement with CSUF before going to the library. Here is a
list of libraries that allow Cal State Fullerton students to check out books.
Rental and Buying Options
Many textbooks are available for semester rental at the Campus Bookstore.
Chegg is another textbook rental service.
You can comparison shop for textbooks online using the Firfox plugin BookBurro at http://www.bookburro.org.
For additional help, see:
How do I physically locate books in the library?
How do I find books in other libraries?