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Locating Books

How do I obtain a CWU Connection Card?

Upon registration Central Washington University students receive a CWU Campus Connection Card. This card is presented when borrowing materials from CWU Brooks Library and participating Summit libraries. If you do not have one, contact your CWU University Center Office.

How do I locate Brooks Library materials in the CWU Library System?

Users may wish to consult the Cattrax Online Catalog to locate materials within the physical collection. Cattrax includes information related to the location and availability of books, journals, videos and links to online government information as well as print materials.

How do I borrow Brooks Library materials from the CWU Library System?

After identifying circulating materials in Brooks Library users can request items online using our Document Delivery Service through ILLiad, Brooks Library's Inter-library Loan System. Users will need to fill out a registration form and create an ILLiad account before materials can be requested. ILLiad requests are delivered via USPS directly to the requester's address.

CWU students and staff at the Lynnwood and Des Moines University Centers may also initiate direct requests with library staff in the Library Resource Rooms. Direct requests made at the Des Moines or Lynnwood Library Resource Rooms are picked up at their respective locations. Direct requests are to be returned to their place of delivery.

How do I return document delivery materials to the CWU Library System?

Document Delivery materials requested through ILLiad may be dropped off at the Brooks Library Circulation Desk at main campus, any University Center office, or returned via USPS using the enclosed first-class mailing label. Direct requests are to be returned to their place of delivery.

How do I borrow books from other local university libraries?

CWU Brooks Library is a member of Orbis/Cascade which includes the Summit service. The Summit Catalog searches library holdings at all participating institutions. Searching is non-restricted, though requesting materials is restricted to users with a Library PIN Number. To expedite the Summit request process and maintain cost control, users need to determine that the item they are requesting is NOT available at Brooks Library. Items available at Brooks Library will not be filled through Summit.

CWU users may also use the Summit Service in the following ways:

  • Visit a Summit library and use their services. By presenting your CWU Connection Card and Library Pin Number you will have access to publicly available resources and allowed borrowing privileges to available materials.
  • Initiate a Summit request and have the item delivered to the Summit Library nearest your home.
  • Initiate a Summit request online and have it delivered to Brooks Library Circulation Desk at main campus, the CWU-Des Moines or Lynnwood University Center Library Resource Rooms. All Summit requests must be picked up in person.

How do I return Summit materials?

Summit requests must be returned to either the Brooks Library Circulation Desk at main campus, the CWU-Des Moines or CWU-Lynnwood University Center Library Resource Rooms, or to any participating Summit Library.

How do I borrow books not owned by Brooks Library or Summit in the ILLiad System?

To borrow materials not owned by Brooks Library or in the Summit system patrons need to confirm that the materials are not available in print or electronic format by searching the Brooks Library Catalog and the Summit Catalog and initiate an ILL Request. After identifying circulating material users can request them online using our ILL Service through ILLiad, Brooks Library's Inter-library Loan System. Users will need to fill out a registration form and create an ILLiad account before materials can be requested. ILLiad requests are delivered via USPS directly to the requester's address.

To search over 1,000 inter-library loan member libraries across North America and other regions, users will need to search Worldcat - FirstSearch. Access is restricted to University affiliated members.

How do I return ILL materials to the CWU Library System?

ILL materials requested through ILLiad may be dropped off at the Brooks Library circulation desk at main campus, any University Center office, or returned via USPS using the enclosed first-class mailing label.

If you are having difficulty connecting from off-campus, please refer to our Guide to Connecting from Off-campus. You may also call our toll free telephone number at 800.290.3327 for further assistance.