Books

Avila's Best Sources for Books

Click a icon to view a tutorial.

Print Books, DVDs & More.
Avila Catalog
Search the Avila stacks.

Can't Find It at Avila?
MOBIUS Catalog
Search & request from Avila's 70+ partner libraries.
WorldCat
Search & request from libraries throughout the US.

eBook Collections
EBSCO eBook Collection
Search all of Avila's EBSCO eBooks in one place.

Your Avila librarians are here to help you find the resources you need.

Avila eBook Collections A to Z

Click a icon to view a database's tutorial.

Search Across Collections
eBook Collection
Publication Finder
Search Everything

Adult eBooks
Consumer Health Reference eBook Collection
eBook Academic Collection
eBook Community College Collection
eBook Education Collection
eBook Medical Collection
eBook Open Access Collection
eBook Public Library Collection
MasterFILE Reference eBook Collection
Science Reference eBook Collection

eBooks for Children
Book Collection Nonfiction: Elementary School Edition
Book Collection Nonfiction: High School Edition
Book Collection Nonfiction: Middle School Edition
eBook High School Collection
eBook K-8 Collection
MAS Reference eBook Collection
Middle Search Reference eBook Collection
Primary Search Reference eBook Collection

Borrowing Avila Books

The Avila library has over 35,000 books in print. You can use the Avila catalog to search our books and request that they be reserved for you. Click the Placing Holds tab in this menu for an overview of how to request an item from the Avila catalog. We process hold requests twice-daily, so your book should be ready to pick up on the same day or early on the following morning.

Most of Avila's books are kept in a closed location. To check out one of these books, contact the circulation desk or place a hold in the library catalog. If a book shelved in the library catches your eye, bring it to the front desk for checkout. Not sure where a book is shelved? The circulation desk staff are happy to retrieve it for you!

Borrowing from MOBIUS

The Avila library is a member of MOBIUS, a partnership of 70+ libraries in Missouri and throughout the Midwest.

In the MOBIUS catalog, you can place holds on items from MOBIUS partner libraries and have them sent to Avila. Click the Placing Holds tab in this menu for an overview of how to request an item from the MOBIUS catalog.

MOBIUS books take 3-10 days on average to arrive at Avila, so please plan ahead if you need materials by a deadline. Click the Place a Hold tab for an overview of how to place a request.

Requesting Avila & MOBIUS Items

When you place a hold on an item from Avila or MOBIUS, the book will be retrieved and set aside for you to pick up when you are next in the library. Placing a hold is a convenient way to get access to the books you need. To get started, go to the Avila or MOBIUS catalog, find the item you want, and select the "Place a hold" button.

You may be asked to sign in on a new page. Your username and password will be the same ones used to login to Canvas, Navigate, MyAU or your Avila email. When requesting from MOBIUS, you must also first select Avila University from a list of libraries. If you aren't able to log in or see an error message, please contact us for assistance. In most cases, errors can be quickly resolved by updating your account.

Once you are logged in, you will be returned to the page where you originally made the request. Close Avila University as the pickup location, add any notes for library staff, and click the Place Hold button.

When a hold is ready for you to pick up, you will receive an email. Stop by the Avila library circulation desk to check out your item. Be sure to bring your Avila ID or another form of photo ID.

Borrowing from Other Libraries

If a book is not available from an Avila or MOBIUS, we may be able to borrow it for you through Interlibrary Loan (ILL). With ILL, we can search and request from the collections of libraries across the country. We can also request copies of articles and book chapters. Visit the Interlibrary Loan page for more information or to place a request.

Borrowing Avila DVDs

The Avila library has over 1,900 DVDs. Use the Avila catalog to search and request DVDs, or visit the library to browse DVDs and borrow them right away. DVDs may also be requestable through MOBIUS.

Student DVDs are located to the left of Study Room 1 and can be checked out by students, staff & faculty. Faculty DVDs are located in the center of the library and can only be checked out by faculty & staff. Students are welcome to watch Faculty DVDs on library computers with headphones. Bring DVDs to the circulation desk for checkout.

Reading Avila Periodicals

The Avila library subscribes to dozens of print periodicals. Periodicals from the past 2 years can be found in the library's periodical stacks, older editions are kept in the closed stacks and can be requested at the circulation desk. Use the Avila catalog to search for periodicals.

Only Avila staff and faculty may check out periodicals. Other patrons are welcome to read periodicals in the library, but cannot check them out. Please contact the circulation desk if you would like us to retrieve an older periodical for you from the closed stacks.

Avila's print periodical collection contains academic journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine and general interest magazines such as National Geographic. The library also has subscriptions to 2 daily newspapers: The Kansas City Star and The New York Times.