Simpson Library has more than 300,000 books in print, and more than 400,000 e-books.

To find books, use the library search box. On the search results page, limit your search to "Books" or "Electronic books."

When you find a physical book in the library search results, write down the book's call number, and then go to the shelves.

Books are shelved according to the Library of Congress Classification System. In this system, the library is divided into twenty-one broad subject areas, each of which is assigned one letter of the alphabet.

To use call numbers, read them from the top down.

We invite AP and IB teachers to provide us with lists of enrolled students in AP or IB classes. Students: if your teacher has given us a list of names, and your name is on the list, you may apply for a Guest Patron card and check out books.

• Up to five books at a time may be checked out.
• The loan period is 35 days. Books may be renewed up to three times. To renew a book, login to your online account, using the password that came with your library card. Or, call the Circulation Desk at 540-654-1125, or send an email to library@umw.edu. Our staff can renew books for you.
• Guest patrons may not check out DVDs, microforms, current periodicals, reserve materials, electronic equipment, or reference books.
• Guest patron cards do not grant access to Simpson's library databases.
• Cards issued to high school students expire at the end of UMW's school year (in April or May).
• Applicants who are younger than eighteen must provide the name of their school and the name of their teacher, and the teacher must agree to serve as a point of contact.

For complete information about Guest Patron cards, see this page.

If you don't want to get a Guest Patron card, you still have several options for using Simpson's library books: