Simpson Library has more than 300,000 books in print, and more than 500,000 e-books.

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

For each high school field trip, Simpson Library issues a free Guest Patron library card in the teacher's name. With the teacher's approval, students on the field trip may check books out using the teacher's card.

• By default, the loan period is 35 days, but high school teachers may request longer loan periods.
• Teachers can renew books that are checked out on their library cards. 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.
• Students can return library books directly to Simpson Library. Or, they can return the books to their teacher, who can then return them to Simpson Library.
• 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.

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

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