FAQ (great for first year students!)
We welcome you to the Sourasky Central Library!
The Library staff is at your service and will be more than happy to do whatever they can to make your learning experience pleasant and interesting and answer any query you may have
The aim of this FAQ guide is to assist and direct with various aspects of the Library's procedures and refers to specific pages within the library site
The Sourasky Central Library is one of five major Campus Libraries.
The library is located at the Campus center.
The collection holds items in the fields of Arts and Humanities fields and beyond, as well as several special collections and affiliated sub-libraries.
At the library you may find Books, Journals, Newspapers, Theses – in printed, electronic, and digital formats.
The library is open daily 8:30AM to 20:00PM.
Special opening/closing hours may apply.
Entrance is free of charge for all patrons and visitors.
The DaTA library catalog enables you to search for your requested items or research subjects in all university libraries.
To understand how to use the catalog and understand search and items availability results, please see the DaTA Catalog Quick Guide.
The collection is mostly organized in an "open shelf" system, which enables direct access to the items.
Most items are arranged on the shelves according to the Dewey Classification System – a decimal system which classifies books according to their subject:
The Code consists of a combination of digits (sometimes with parentheses) and then letters, is printed on a sticker on the book's spine, and enables one to locate the book easily on the shelf
Hebrew books are placed before the non-Hebrew books on the shelves.
For example: 184 PLA
This is a book on Philosophy, located on the 1st floor (this indication appears in the catalog)
To retrieve the item:
follow the signs on the shelves according to the range indicated, for example, 180–184
follow the stickers until you reach 184
go past the stickers with Hebrew letters, until you reach P
search for PLA alphabetically and find the item
First, make sure the item is not marked as "checked out/not available" on the library catalog.
Then, make sure you searched for the item correctly according to the Classification System (see above).
Check the re-shelving bookstands, usually found at the entrance to the Reading Halls adjacent to the librarian stations; it is also possible the item has just been returned and has not reached the Hall yet or that it is being treated by the Technical Department.
Check the surrounding tables - books can be left up to a week on the tables with a special Keep Books Slip.
If all efforts failed, please see the librarian, it may be that the item is lost and an Investigation Procedure may commence.
Items can be borrowed via the Circulation Desk on the ground floor according to the borrowing period policies.
Items are automatically renewed up to a period of one year or until an item is requested.
Please keep track of the loan period to avoid a delay in returning the items which may result in a fine.
Items should be returned via the Circulation Desk or the Dropbox located to the right of to the entrance door.
Students are responsible to check whether the item was requested and needs to be returned to the library; when an item is due an email is sent.
Library patrons are provided with an account on DaTA - the Library's search system.
The account provides information on checked out items and their due date, requests, fines, etc.
You can access your library card via the library website, on the DaTA catalog - upper right corner, click on "Sign In", or log in to MyTau and connect to your card.
The easiest way is to use the Library App.
There are computer workstations and printer/scanner machines throughout the library building through which you can print documents or copy and scan; A3-size and color printer is available at the Main Entrance Hall.
There are several regular and heavy-duty staplers at the Circulation Desk.
Stationery and other merchandise and supplies are available for purchase at the Attendant Station at the entry to the Main Entrance Hall.
