Quicklinks
CURRICULUM RESOURCES
Guide to Finding K – 12 Textbooks
The CECH Library has a large collection of textbooks covering a variety of subjects taught in elementary, middle and secondary schools and representing grades kindergarten through twelfth. These are arranged by curriculum area using the Dewey Decimal Classification system and are shelved in the Textbooks section of the CECH Library. CECH Library's textbooks may be checked out for three weeks and renewed twice. The CECH Library also has a collection of historic textbooks with some dating back to the 1800s. The historic textbooks do not circulate. The following methods can be used to find textbooks.
How Can I Find a Particular Textbook Title or Textbook Series?
- Start your search at the University Libraries home page http://www.libraries.uc.edu then click on “Library Catalog.”
- Click on “TITLE” and enter the textbook title, e.g. Modern Chemistry, or the textbook series, e.g. harcourt brace social studies
- If the CECH Library owns these titles, you will be given the call number and availability of the item(s)
- If the CECH Library does not own the title, conduct the above search by clicking on OhioLINK on the the Libraries home page. This will permit you to check for the title in other academic libraries in Ohio. If you find the title, you may be able to request the title be sent to you.
How can I find what textbooks the CECH Library owns in a given subject area?
If you need to find what K – 12 textbooks the CECH Library owns in a particular curriculum subject field, such as biology, Algebra, elementary mathematics, spelling, reading, U.S. history, etc. do the following:
- Start your search at the University Libraries home page http://www.libraries.uc.edu, then click on “Library Catalog.”
- Next, click on the arrow in the “Location” area and from the pull down menu that appears, select “CECH Library"
- Then click in the top window of the three Word Search windows at the top of the page and enter the curriculum subject field for which you are seeking to see what textbooks the CECH Library owns in that field, for example biology or social studies (usually used for elementary series) or algebra or literature, etc. (see table below for a list of curriculum subject areas to use).
- Next, enter in the middle Search window the term: textbook
- Click on “Search” You will get a list showing the textbooks that the CECH Library owns for the curriculum area you have entered. Click on any of the lines and you will be given the call number and availability of the item(s) CECH Library textbooks may be checked out for three weeks and two renewals to authorized borrowers.
Curriculum Subjects with Corresponding Dewey Classification Numbers for CECH Library Textbooks
Algebra 512
Art 707
Biology 574
Calculus 515
Career Education 331.7
Chemistry 540
Composition (Writing) 426.23
Computers 001.64
Drama 811
Dramatics / Acting 792
Earth Science 550
Economics 330
English 420
English Grammar 425
Foreign Languages, General 410
French 448
Geography, Ohio 917.71
Geography, Regional 914-919
Geography, World / General 910
Geometry 516
German 438
Grammar 425
Guidance 371.4
Handwriting 426.34
Health 613
History, Ohio 977.1
History, U.S. 973
History, World / General 909
Journalism 070
Language Arts, General 420
Latin 478
Library Skills 025.5
Literature, American 810
Literature, English 820
Literature, General 800
Mathematics, Elementary /General 513
Music 780
Physical Education 613.7
Physical Science 530
Physics 530
Poetry 811
Political Science 320
Problem Solving 160
Psychology 150
Reading 428.4
Science, Elementary / General 500
Social Studies, Elementary /General 300
Sociology 301
Spanish 468
Special Education 371.9
Speech 426.22
Spelling 426.32
Study Skills 371.3
Thinking Skills 160
Trigonometry 516.2
Writing (Composition) 426.23
Call Number Examples
The following are examples of call numbers used for textbooks. Each line of the call number indicates an element of information about a given book.
| Format: | TEXT | textbook |
| Dewey subject: | 574 | biology |
| Publisher abbreviation: | GMH | Glencoe/McGraw-Hill |
| Publication date: | 2002 | |
| Grade(s): | Gr 9-12 | grades nine - twelve |
| Edition type: | TE | teacher’s edition |
| Format: | TEXT | textbook |
| Dewey subject: | 513 | mathematics |
| Publisher abbreviation: | HSP | Harcourt |
| Publication date: | 2002 | |
| Grade(s): | Gr 3 | grade three |
| Edition type: | TB | student’s edition (textbook) |
Sample Edition Types
| LM | laboratory manual |
| LMTE | laboratory manual, teacher’s edition |
| TB | textbook (student edition) |
| TE | teacher’s edition |
| WK | workbook |
| WKTE | workbook, teacher’s edition |
How can I find textbooks that the CECH Library currently has on its shelves for a particular curriculum subject area?
This browsing method works best if you are simply looking for any textbooks that might be on the CECH Library shelves in a given subject area at a given time. Consult the chart above to determine the classification number for the subject for which you want textbooks. The textbooks are shelved together in the Textbooks section of the CECH Library. These books are arranged in numeric order by the classification numbers given above. By using the shelf markers as guides, find the shelves that have the textbooks with the classification number that you are looking for. This method gives you an opportunity to use a hands-on approach which allows you to look through the books to find those that meet your needs.
How can I find what K – 12 Textbooks are currently in print for a given curriculum subject area?
If you need to find out what K – 12 textbooks are currently in print for a given subject area or you wish to determine if a particular textbook title is in print,
consult El-Hi Textbooks and Serials in Print (CUR/REF/Z5817/.A5). This reference book is available in the Reference section of the CECH Library. Textbooks are listed by title, series, and subject and author. Publisher contact information is also available in this book.
The CECH Library also maintains a vertical file of textbook publishers’catalogs. This Publishers’ Catalog File is a good resource for finding out more information about the various published components of textbooks.
How can I find K – 12 Textbook publisher information?
If you wish to find K – 12 textbooks publisher information such as addresses, phone numbers, Web sites, etc., consult El-Hi Textbooks and Serials in Print (CUR/REF/Z5817/.A5). This reference book is available in the Reference section of the CECH Library. Textbooks are listed by title, series, and subject and author. Publishers’ contact information is also available in this book.
The CECH Library also maintains a vertical file of textbook publishers’ catalogs. This Publishers' Catalog File is a good resource for finding publisher information.
How can I find historical textbooks?
"American Primers and Readers," an online exhibit based on the words and collection of Richard L. Venezky.
The Archives and Rare Books Library maintains a reference historical collection of selected titles dating back to the 1800s.