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MU Extension

Find Books and eBooks

Use Discover@MU to search the catalog of MU and UM System libraries.

Books & eBooks Search


Limit Your Results

Search the Libraries Catalog - Discover@MU

Discover@MU includes our books, DVDs, recordings, and other physical materials, as well as articles, e-books, journals, videos, and other digital materials from library databases. Search it from the blue search box on the MU Libraries' homepage.

 

Find books owned by MU Libraries 

Use the search box on the homepage of the MU library website to find and request books and other physical items. You can search by topic or keyword, or by title or author for specific items. If you know the exact title of the item you need, use quotation marks to search (e.g. “Living Nations, Living Words”). Choose the filter UM Books to limit to print books across the four campuses, or scroll down to Library Location to limit to certain libraries. 

You may see books available at the other UM Libraries. Click Show More to see all the locations for an item.

Locate Books in the Library

Book results will show you:

  • Which campus or library holds the book -- libraries in Columbia will have MU in the location name.
  • The call number for the book -- be sure to write down or text yourself the call number before going to search for the book.
  • The book's availability -- each copy of the book will say whether it is available or checked out.
  • A "Place Request" button -- library staff will pull the book for you and send it to your preferred library for pick-up.
    • You can request books from any campus library (excluding items marked as reserve, reference, or special collections).
    • If you need the book immediately and it is at your campus library, it is faster to go to the library and find the book. Staff are only able to pull requests 1-2 times a day.
      • Exception: Books located at MU Library Depository should be requested, as this is an off-site storage facility.
    • If the book is located at another campus, it will take a few days for the book to arrive on campus. You will get an email when it is available for pick-up.

 

You can also search the call number for books in Ellis Library and get directions. 

MU Libraries will mail their books to MU Distance Learning students living outside Columbia. If a patron outside of Columbia lives near a MOBIUS library, the material will be sent to that library for your pickup. See this list to determine if you live near a MOBIUS library.

Use the scan and deliver service for electronic delivery of periodical articles, book chapters, proceedings, technical reports, government documents in the MU Libraries' collections.

Request:
  • Books (cannot be sent overseas)
  • Dissertations
  • Government documents
  • PDF copies of journal articles
What types of material cannot be requested?
  • Books from Special Collections
  • Reference materials  (e.g., REF-R location codes)
  • Entire magazine/journal volumes or individual current issues
  • A/V material  (microfiche, film)
    • Computer disks
    • CD-ROMs
  • Resources on Reserve for courses during the semester that they are on Reserve
Length of time you may keep materials
  • MU Students living in and outside Missouri can request books.
  • All students enrolled in MU's Distance Learning Programs are eligible for Reciprocal Borrowing privileges through:
  • Students not residing in the United States may be eligible for borrowing privileges at local libraries.
    • We do not mail books outside the United States.
  • Off-campus faculty living in Missouri or outside Missouri can also request books.

Search the Library Catalog for books (MU Libraries, UMKC, UMSL and MS&T)

Click on the Request tab in the UM Libraries Catalog or MOBIUS to start the process:

  • If you live in Missouri within a short distance of a MOBIUS Library, you may use that library as the place to have books delivered for you to check out:
    • Request all items through the MOBIUS Catalog, even those held in the MU Libraries. 
  • If you do not live near a University of Missouri or MOBIUS Library:
  1. Choose MU Ellis Checkout Desk as your pick up location.
  2. When you receive the email note telling you that the book has arrived and is ready for you to pick up, reply to the note or contact the Ellis Library Interlibrary Loan Supply/Lending Unit at 573-882-3224; muLibrariesLendilll@missouri.edu, if you do not contact us, the book will be placed on the Ellis Library Hold shelf waiting for you to pick it up rather than being shipped to you. 

Note:

  • The MU Libraries pay the shipping to the DL student or extension faculty on the sending side.
    • Shipping is by UPS so distance does not matter.
    • The MU Libraries do not ship internationally. 
  • Students and faculty are responsible for the cost of sending the materials back to the Libraries.
    • To return items to the Libraries, you must use a system that tracks mail (FEDEX or UPS).
    • Please return items to:

MU Ellis Checkout and Information Desk
102 Ellis Library
1020 Lowry Mall, MU
Columbia, MO 65201
Attn: Distance Learning Loan

If you need further assistance, please contact the Ellis Library Checkout Desk at MULibraryCircDesk@missouri.edu, or call (573)-882-3362. 

If a book is recalled, you must return the item before you can borrow anything else from the Libraries.

  • You will be liable for a $2 per day fine for the overdue recall.
  • Further delay will result in an invoice for the cost of replacement for an additional $175.

If you have questions about notices or have lost a book, contact Ellis circulation at 882-3362.

Other campuses may charge for overdue items which have not been recalled.