Resources for High School Students

High school students must come to the University Library in-person to find and use books and ebooks. All high school students can use our books while at the University Library. High school students can also sign-up to check out books on a limited basis through CSUN Library's High School Partnership Program.

Find books in OneSearch

The tutorial below will guide you in searching for books in OneSearch. Note: Non-CSUN students will not be able to use OneSearch's sign-in features.

Visitor computers are only available to request during Library Technology Services desk hours.

• Visit the Library Technology Services Desk on the main floor of the Library to request use of a Library computer. You will be able to use a Library computer for a two-hour period.
• Bring your high school ID card or another valid form of identification in order to use a Library computer.

During your visit at the Library, you can save articles to a USB (Flash) drive or email articles to yourself.

Please see our Visitor Computer Access library services page for more information.

The tutorial below will guide you in finding books on the shelf at the University Library. All high school students can use our books while at the University Library. High school students who are part of the University Library's Advanced Placement Program may check out books on a limited basis. Please see the University Library's Advanced Placement Program for more information.

• Free Textbooks by Subject 

  These university-level digital textbooks are freely available to everyone, to read online, download, or remix. Browse by discipline.

• Using OneSearch, type in your keywords and select Go.

  • Select the 'Books' filter and the "Available Online at CSUN" filters in the left column of the search results.

• Check out our eBooks guide

How Call Numbers Work

• Figure 1: Books are shelved alphabetically by the first letter or letters.
• Figure 2: Books are then arranged numerically by the number following the letter(s).
• Figure 3: Finally, books are shelved alphabetically by the next letter and decimally by the following number.

What does the call number mean?

The Library of Congress Classification arranges materials by subjects. The first sections of the call number represent the subject of the book. The letter-and-decimal section of the call number often represents the author's last name. And, as you recall, the last section of a call number is often the date of publication. example:

• Figure 1:
  • Book's title: What You Need to Know About Developing Study Skills, Taking Notes & Tests, Using Dictionaries & Libraries.  
  • Author: Coman, Marcia J.
  • Call number: LB2395 .C65 1991
• Figure 2: The first two lines describe the subject of the book, LB 2395 = Methods of Study, in Higher Education.
• Figure 3: This line often represents author's last name. .C65 = Coman

Because books are classified by subject, you can often find several helpful books on the same shelf, or nearby. For example, within the same call number LB2395, there are other guides for college study.

• Figure 1: A Student's Guide to Efficient Study, by Luella Cole.
• Figure 2: Keys to College Success, by Minnette Lenier.
• Figure 3: A Successful Student's Handbook, by Rita Phipps.