Teaching Materials Center

Check what section of the TMC you're in.

• Look at the book's location in ONESearch, next to where it says "Available at...: and make sure to look at the TMC Locations  and the TMC Map for help finding the right area.
• Along with the regular TMC Locations, there are temporary displays around the room. Check to see if a book's location says TMC Display (the two display cases) or TMC New (new books display). Books CAN be taken from the new books section or display, anytime!

Double check the call number. Make sure you've copied down the whole number!

• There are many collections around the TMC with similar call numbers, so you want to have the whole number, starting with "TMC." For instance, Biographies start with "TMC Biography" followed by call numbers that are similar to the Nonfiction section. If you're in the right section and can't find the book, you might try another section with similar call numbers, in case it's misplaced.
  • Remember, Easy and Board books are arranged by the call number starting with an author's last name.
  • Look at the TMC Locations for help with specific call numbers.

Take a look around. Look to the left, right, above, and below where you expect to see the book on the shelf, just in case it's slightly misplaced.

Double check the book's availability.

• If it says "Available" in the record, that means it should be on the shelf.
• If it says "Checked out", the book is not available in the library. You can place a hold on the book, run a new search for something similar, or ask for help. Make sure you have a back-up plan: placing a checked out book on hold doesn't guarantee that it will be returned on time.

Ask at the Help Center (the main desk in the lobby). Books sometimes get checked in but aren't yet reshelved. Your book may be waiting on a cart behind the desk.

Check your spelling. You may just have a simple typo in your search.

You might be typing in too much. Change your search to only a word or two. For instance, instead of "rainforest reptiles and amphibians", you might want to look for a more general book on "rainforest", or alternatively, "reptiles or amphibians." There may not be an entire book on your topic, but you might just find a chapter in a more general book.

Combine synonyms or related terms using "OR." An "OR" in between your words broadens out your search. Use this to combine similar words and increase your findings. For instance, "rabbits OR bunnies" will give you even more to look at than either one alone.

Use resources within the TMC Guide to explore more specific topics.

We might not own that book, or have much on your topic. For options on searching beyond the library, see the following section of the Guide: Beyond the TMC

Your search terms might not be specific enough. Try varying your terminology. For instance, instead of "water", "sea" or "ocean" may work better.

Combine specific search terms using "AND." An "AND" in between your results narrows down your search. Instead of just looking for "pirates," you might look for "pirates AND ships", "pirates AND treasure," etc, depending on the specific aspect of "pirates" that you're interested in.

Make sure you're limiting to the TMC. From within MyRedDragon or the Advanced Search, select "Teaching Materials Collection."

Narrow down to a specific area of the TMC. After you run a search, look for the "Refine Results" section on the left, and expand the "Location" sub-section. Select any area of the TMC you prefer to search, or exclude areas you don't want to look in.

Use resources within the TMC Guide to help you narrow down what exactly you're looking for.

Try searching by "Subject" in the Advanced Search to really limit your search to books "tagged" with a specific topic. When you're looking at a book you like, you can even click on the Subject links to find related books that way.

The librarians and other staff are here to help! You can find someone helpful in the TMC, or go to the Help Center or Research Help desk in the lobby. You can email the TMC Librarian if it's a really tough question. There are many ways you can contact us for further help, even if you're not on campus. Or click the dragon image below to chat:

Use the Reshelving Carts. There's no need to go back and try to figure out where you found a book... just place it on one of the two reshelving carts located:

• Next to the Display Cases
• Right in front of the Easy section

Using the reshelving cart ensures that the books will get back to the right place.The books also get scanned at the desk for in-library use, which is helpful for our statistics. So do your part and use the cart, and library staff will take care of it from there.

YES!! All of the books, toys, games, kits, puppets, jackdaws and other "hands on" non-book items circulate.

Check out materials at the Help Center Desk. Bring any items you're borrowing along with your student ID card to the main Help Center Desk in the lobby.

Up to 25 items for students. This can include any combination of books, puppets, kits, etc. Even if there are multiple pieces inside, each barcoded item counts as one item.

For more information, see Memorial Library's borrowing policies.

Four weeks: You can borrow ANY items in the TMC (books, games, puppets, etc) for 4 weeks OR until the end of the semester, whichever comes first.

Need a bit longer? You can renew items through your library account, located by clicking the My Library Card link within the Library Tab of MyRedDragon.

For more information on borrowing materials, see the Library Resources Page.

It's a flexible space for all studying scenarios! You can work with groups toward the front of the room, or go off alone to the individual tables located near the windows along the length of the large book stacks. There are plenty of spots right near power sources that you can plug into, too. A charging station is also located near the front of the TMC (and there are others elsewhere throughout the library).

Make it your own: The tables and chairs all have wheels on them, and can be moved around to any configuration you prefer. Feel free to move them around, especially for group projects!

Need some peace and quiet? While those individual spots offer good privacy, be aware that the TMC is NOT a designated quiet space. For a good silent studying spot, you can head up to the third and fourth floors.