NEW! Tutorial on how to search for an author in the Library's catalog. This tutorial does require Flash to play on your computer.

How to find information in the Library:

Start by searching for your subject, title or author in the library's online catalog (called ATHENA). Many subjects taught at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale are shelved in more than one area of the library, for example: animation is sometimes found with drawing books and sometimes found with filmmaking books.

ATHENA is located on every computer in the library and is also available on the Internet , to access it click here.

ATHENA has extensive HELP features built into the software to aid you in your search. You can also ask a librarian for help, whenever you think the library doesn't have what you need.

ATHENA will give you a list of items the library owns on your topic along with each item's shelf address. This shelf address is commonly referred to as a Call Number and is based upon the Library of Congress Classification System. This system attempts to keep all items with a similar subject matter together. Click here to see how to read Call Numbers.

If the items you need are missing from the shelf, it could be because:

• The items are checked-out. You can ask that you be notified when they come back in, called a reserve.
• Someone else is using the items in the library. Be patient, the library staff will try to locate you if you are still in the Library when the item is returned to the desk.
• The items are shelved in somewhere other than the main collection, like Oversized Materials, videos, DVDs, CD-ROMs, Special Collections, Reference, Textbooks and Reserves. If you are not sure, ask a Library staff member.
• The items are older magazines, most of which are shelved under the current issue (lift the shelf up). If you don't see it there ask at the front desk.

If you still cannot locate the library material you need, don't give up! Ask to speak with a Librarian and we will try to assist you in locating the material here or at another Library.