Check out a Book

Locate books and other library materials using Quicksearch. Once you find something you want, you have options.

  • You can retrieve materials held in library stacks on your own.
  • You can request that library staff retrieve materials for you to be picked up.
  • You can request scans of chapters and articles from materials in library stacks.

You can check out the book at a service desk or use a self-checkout kiosk. Yale Library also has a self-checkout app for your smart phone. 

Have us Find the Book

A handy service offered at Yale Library is to request the book to a pickup location, which can be found at the service desk of that library. Once you find a book, select to pick it up at the library of your choice and library staff will find it for you. In all libraries except Sterling Memorial Library, you will find the book by visiting the circulation desk and asking for your books by giving your name. You will need your Yale ID. The staff there will help you check the book out. In Sterling Memorial Library, the hold shelf is self-service and is in a room inside the entrance to the book stack tower.

Course Reserves for Students

Course reserves are articles and books that are placed at the library, usually by your professor, to make assigned textbooks and readings for your classes available. These may take the form of physical books or electronic files in Canvas, called e-reserves.

Course reserves will be listed in your class site. To access your class, log in to Canvas

Physical Reserves

  • Physical reserves are generally shelved separately from the rest of the books in the library. Some reserve materials at Bass are shelved with the general collection. Ask at the circulation desk in the individual library for their location. 
  • Physical reserves have varying loan lengths which are noted in Orbis. Check at the circulation desk at your library for details.
  • Physical reserves cannot be renewed.
Note: Significant fines will apply when physical reserve materials are held past the time when they are due back