Library FAQ - Finding & Getting Materials
Graduate students, Faculty and Staff may check out bound periodicals for 2 days. All other users must use the periodicals in the library (photocopiers are available).
Some textbooks are available, but Randall Library cannot afford to purchase a copy of every textbook used at UNCW.
You can check the library catalog for your textbook. Get help searching the catalog here. If you don't know the title or author of your textbook, check your class syllabus, or use the bookstore's textbook list by visiting http://www.uncw.edu/ba/bookstore/ and choosing "textbooks" in the left side menu.
There are two ways to look for books that Randall Library does not have and that you can request to borrow from another library.
Method 1: You can search Randall Library's catalog as well as the library catalogs at Fayetteville State University and UNCP by searching the Coastal Library Consortium. Begin by searching the Randall Library catalog, then change your scope from "Wilmington" to "UNC Coastal Library Consortium," like this:
Then, enter your keywords and search the consortium. When you find a book that you want, check the location. If the location is "FSU Main Stacks" or "UNCP General Collection," then you may put a hold on the item.
If the book status lists it as "available," the book will typically arrive at UNCW 1-2 working days after you put a hold on it. [link to how to hold an item]
Method 2: Look for books in libraries worldwide using WorldCat (search WorldCat here) and request them using Interlibrary Loan, or ILLiad (more information here). Books requested using Interlibrary Loan may take 1-3 weeks to arrive at UNCW.
Use the library catalog to search for library materials. The catalog is a searchable list of everything that the library owns, except for articles.
Using the tabs across the top of the catalog search screen, you can search by keywords, author (put the author's last name first), or title.
For help finding the item you want, go to "Where do I find books, DVDs, and other materials in Randall Library?"
First, search for books, DVDs or CDs in the catalog. (For help with the catalog, go to how to search the catalog. If you need an article, go to the section on finding articles.) Note the location, call number, and status of the book or other item you want. If the item's status says it's available, you can check it out. If the status has a date listed under it, the item is currently checked out.
To find an item that is available, think of the location as the "neighborhood" where the item is and the call number is its "address" in that neighborhood. For example, the book:
Children and Television: Fifty Years of Research
is located in the General Collection (neighborhood) and it's call number is HQ784.T4 C512 2007. The call number is like its address (shelf HQ784) in the General Collection neighborhood.
You can click on the link under the "location" of each item to see a map of that location in the library. In this case, the General Collection map shows that it is on the 2nd floor of the library.
Books might be in the General Collection, Reference Collection, Recreational Reading or Government Documents collections. Media materials are located in the DVD, VHS or CD collections. For maps of the library to help locate these locations, click here.
Place a hold on that item. Search the library catalog for the item you want, click on the title of the item, then click the "Hold Item" button at the top of the display: 
Complete the login form, click "Submit," and the message displays that your request was successful. If you're an undergraduate student, you will get an email when the item is ready to be picked up. If you are a graduate student, faculty, or staff, the item will be sent to you.
Reference materials should be used in the Library; however, faculty and staff may borrow some items for a negotiated period (please check with the reference librarian on duty).
- Undergraduate students = 28 days for books from the general, recreational reading, and juvenile collections and government documents
- Graduate students = until the end of the semester for general collection books and government documents. Books from the recreational reading and juvenile collection circulate for 28 days for graduate students.
- UNCW Faculty, Staff, & Trustees = until the end of the semester for general collection books and government documents. Books from the recreational reading and juvenile collection circulate for 28 days for graduate students.
- All others = 28 days for books from the general, recreational reading, and juvenile collections and government documents
As a Federal Depository Library, Randall Library receives many publications issued by agencies of the U.S. Government. These publications, which may include books, maps, posters, pamphlets, and periodicals, contain information on careers, business opportunities, space exploration, health and nutrition, energy, and many other subjects.
Federal Government publications in this collection are arranged by the Superintendent of Documents classification number. Publications are grouped together by issuing agency. To ensure that you find all of the materials available on a particular subject, be sure to check the indexes recommended by library staff. Some materials are distributed to Depository Libraries in formats other than paper, i.e., microfiche, or CD-ROM.
The example below shows how the Superintendent of Documents classification number C 61.34:987 is constructed for the publication U.S. Industrial Outlook:
|
C
|
61.
|
34:
|
987
|
| Commerce Department (issuing agency) |
International Trade Administration (subordinate bureau within the agency) |
Number designating the title | Year of Publication (1987) |
Here are the prefixes from the Superintendent of Documents classification numbers for some other agencies that you may be interested in:
| A | Agriculture Department |
| C 3 | Census Bureau (Commerce Department) |
| D | Defense Department |
| E | Energy Department |
| ED | Education Department |
| GA | General Accounting Office |
| GS | General Services Administration |
| HE | Health and Human Services Department |
| I | Interior Department |
| I 19 | U.S. Geological Survey (Interior Department) |
| J | Justice Department |
| Ju | Judiciary |
| L | Labor Department |
| LC | Library of Congress |
| NAS | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| S | State Department |
| SI | Smithsonian Institution |
| T 22 | Internal Revenue Service (Treasury Department) |
| X, Y | Congress |
| Y 4. | Congressional Committees |
Library staff will be happy to provide you with the prefixes for any Government agency and any other information that can help you find the materials you want. Most U.S. Government publications published since 1990 are searchable in the Randall Library Catalog [http://library.uncw.edu].
The UNCW Catalogue is available at various locations including: at the Circulation Desk, in the reference collection, Government Documents, and Archives.
You can search the library catalog using the "Title" tab and search for "University of North Carolina at Wilmington catalogue".
The Fledgling is available in a number of places, including the Reference collection (1951-1987), General Collection (1958-1987), and other copies available in Special Collections and Archives.
You can search the library catalog using the "Title" tab and search for "Fledgling".
There are plenty of film scripts that are part of the general collection, and to find these do a subject search in the library catalog for “Motion picture plays.” This will bring up items in the General Collection and Special Collections.
Departmental Honors Project titles and now abstracts are in the library and searchable. You can find them at: http://www.uncw.edu/honors/deptindex.htm
or
The Honors Papers can also be searched in the catalog with the Subject Heading “Honors Paper.” For the most part, they are shelved together in the call number starting: LD3971.7 H6 on the same wall shelving where Master’s Theses are. Some earlier papers are only available in the University Archives.
Use the library catalog to search for library materials. The catalog is a searchable list of everything that the library owns, except for articles.
Using the tabs across the top of the catalog search screen, you can search by keywords, author (put the author's last name first), or title.
For help finding the item you want, go to "Where do I find books, DVDs, and other materials in Randall Library?"
First, search for books, DVDs or CDs in the catalog. (For help with the catalog, go to how to search the catalog. If you need an article, go to the section on finding articles.) Note the location, call number, and status of the book or other item you want. If the item's status says it's available, you can check it out. If the status has a date listed under it, the item is currently checked out.
To find an item that is available, think of the location as the "neighborhood" where the item is and the call number is its "address" in that neighborhood. For example, the book:
Children and Television: Fifty Years of Research
is located in the General Collection (neighborhood) and it's call number is HQ784.T4 C512 2007. The call number is like its address (shelf HQ784) in the General Collection neighborhood.
You can click on the link under the "location" of each item to see a map of that location in the library. In this case, the General Collection map shows that it is on the 2nd floor of the library.
Books might be in the General Collection, Reference Collection, Recreational Reading or Government Documents collections. Media materials are located in the DVD, VHS or CD collections. For maps of the library to help locate these locations, click here.
Place a hold on that item. Search the library catalog for the item you want, click on the title of the item, then click the "Hold Item" button at the top of the display:
Complete the login form, click "Submit," and the message displays that your request was successful. If you're an undergraduate student, you will get an email when the item is ready to be picked up. If you are a graduate student, faculty, or staff, the item will be sent to you.
Search the library catalog using the subject tab for Audiobooks will bring them all up. In addition, fiction books on tape/CD also have the heading Oral interpretation of fiction, and poetry books on tape/CD have the heading Oral interpretation of poetry.
The best way to search for them is by searching the library catalog using the subject tab…
Then search: Sound Recordings for English Speakers ______(list language here).
Suggest a Title: Use this form to suggest a book, video, sound recording or other material that the Randall Library might purchase.
Use UNCW's ILLiad, our Interlibrary Loan service, log on here.
UNCW faculty, staff and and students are eligible to request materials not owned by Randall Library.
ILLiad is the online system Randall Library's Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery Services uses to place and track interlibrary loan requests. The name ILLiad can be thought of as an acronym for InterLibrary Loan internet accessible database.
New users will enter their name, address, and other personal information into the system only once, at the time of their first request. Thereafter, you log in with your Username and Password and need only enter the bibliographic information for your requests.
The system offers many articles available more quickly through Electronic Delivery and users can check the status of your request(s) through the Web at any time, from any location.
If a user forgets their password, please contact the Interlibrary Loan Office at (910) 962-7005 or via email. They can then reset the password allowing access into the UNCW ILLiad system.
Many (but not all) of our databases will plug in the citation information into the ILLiad form after the user has clicked on the ILLiad link and then entered in their username and password.
More questions? Please read our "Tips for Best Service http://library.uncwil.edu/web/customerservices/tipsforbestservice.html" and our Interlibrary Loan policy http://library.uncwil.edu/web/policies/interlibrary.html.
First, search for books, DVDs or CDs in the catalog. (For help with the catalog, go to how to search the catalog. If you need an article, go to the section on finding articles.) Note the location, call number, and status of the book or other item you want. If the item's status says it's available, you can check it out. If the status has a date listed under it, the item is currently checked out.
To find an item that is available, think of the location as the "neighborhood" where the item is and the call number is its "address" in that neighborhood. For example, the book:
Children and Television: Fifty Years of Research
is located in the General Collection (neighborhood) and it's call number is HQ784.T4 C512 2007. The call number is like its address (shelf HQ784) in the General Collection neighborhood.
You can click on the link under the "location" of each item to see a map of that location in the library. In this case, the General Collection map shows that it is on the 2nd floor of the library.
Books might be in the General Collection, Reference Collection, Recreational Reading or Government Documents collections. Media materials are located in the DVD, VHS or CD collections. For maps of the library to help locate these locations, click here.
As a Federal Depository Library, Randall Library receives many publications issued by agencies of the U.S. Government. These publications, which may include books, maps, posters, pamphlets, and periodicals, contain information on careers, business opportunities, space exploration, health and nutrition, energy, and many other subjects.
Federal Government publications in this collection are arranged by the Superintendent of Documents classification number. Publications are grouped together by issuing agency. To ensure that you find all of the materials available on a particular subject, be sure to check the indexes recommended by library staff. Some materials are distributed to Depository Libraries in formats other than paper, i.e., microfiche, or CD-ROM.
The example below shows how the Superintendent of Documents classification number C 61.34:987 is constructed for the publication U.S. Industrial Outlook:
|
C
|
61.
|
34:
|
987
|
| Commerce Department (issuing agency) |
International Trade Administration (subordinate bureau within the agency) |
Number designating the title | Year of Publication (1987) |
Here are the prefixes from the Superintendent of Documents classification numbers for some other agencies that you may be interested in:
| A | Agriculture Department |
| C 3 | Census Bureau (Commerce Department) |
| D | Defense Department |
| E | Energy Department |
| ED | Education Department |
| GA | General Accounting Office |
| GS | General Services Administration |
| HE | Health and Human Services Department |
| I | Interior Department |
| I 19 | U.S. Geological Survey (Interior Department) |
| J | Justice Department |
| Ju | Judiciary |
| L | Labor Department |
| LC | Library of Congress |
| NAS | National Aeronautics and Space Administration |
| S | State Department |
| SI | Smithsonian Institution |
| T 22 | Internal Revenue Service (Treasury Department) |
| X, Y | Congress |
| Y 4. | Congressional Committees |
Library staff will be happy to provide you with the prefixes for any Government agency and any other information that can help you find the materials you want. Most U.S. Government publications published since 1990 are searchable in the Randall Library Catalog [http://library.uncw.edu].
Randall Library's materials are arranged according to the Library of Congress Classification Scheme and each item is assigned an individual call number according to the subject area the item falls under. Listed below is a brief subject outline of LC Classification and the corresponding base call number. Also included is a tutorial for reading and understanding the order of LC Call Numbers.
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|
- Every Library of Congress (LC) call number begins with one to three letters, followed by various combinations of whole numbers, decimal numbers, and/or letters. Sometimes at the end of the call number will be a year, a volume number, and a copy number.
- Items are arranged in alpha-numeric order, with single-letter call numbers shelved ahead of multiple letter call numbers with the same first letter.
Thus, H40 comes before HA1. - Numbers to the left of the decimal point in LC call numbers are whole numbers.
Thus, HF54 (HF Fifty-four) comes before HF5381 (HF Five-thousand, three-hundred, eight-one). - Numbers to the right of the decimal point in LC call numbers are decimal numbers.
Thus, HF5381 .M37 (M Thirty-seven hundredths) comes before HF5381 .M5 (M Five-tenths or Fifty-hundredths).
The following call numbers are in correct shelf order for the reasons given:
- GV1787 .D513
- H40 .A2 I5 - H comes after G alphabetically
- HA1 .D3 1989 - HA comes after H
- HA1 .D3 1990 1990 - comes after 1989
- HF54 .U5 P74 - HF comes after HA
- HF5381 .E52 - 5,381 is larger than 54
- HF5381 .M37 - M comes after E
- HF5381 .M5 - .5 (.50) is larger than .37
- HF5415 .S272 - 5,415 is larger than 5,381
- HF5415.1263 .B46 - 5415.126 is larger than 5415 (5415.0000)
- HF5415.2 .S89 - .2(.2000) is larger than .1263
For practice with LC call number order use this exercise from the University of Pittsburg: http://www.pitt.edu/~ford29/SatchLCall/COMPLETE/quizonly.html
All reserve materials are listed in ERes, the library's course reserve system. You may search the course reserve materials by choosing Reserves from the library homepage or by clicking here
Records with the Location UNCW A/V Phonodiscs are located in the Technical Services area, on shelves beside the Conference Room. Any staff member can access this collection and pull records for students to check out.
Cataloged Special Collections records have the location UNCW Special-Sound and a LC Call Number. Most of the records in Special Collections are not in the catalog and are in the Popular Music on Vinyl (LP, 78’s, & 45’s) database. They will have a call number that reads Shelf No or Album ID. Students wanting one of these categories can come to Special Collections and we will get the record.
Students, Staff and Faculty can check out the BD-119. It’s set up for a two hour loan in reserves and is listed under the course name Faculty Staff.
You can also use the Star News Database of New Hanover County Employees
On the Library Homepage [http://library.uncw.edu] click on "Reserves" and then click the Reserves button. From the ERes page click on "Electronic Reserves and Reserves Pages".
From the e-reserves index page choose to search either by department or instructor (using the tabs at the top of the page or by the course number, course name, department or instructor using the drop-down menu. When the copyright message displays, click "Accept" to view the course page.
The course page displays and lists all materials on reserve. Document types include PDF, link or text formats. Clicking on the PDF or link formats will display the document's full text and allow you to view, download or print.
PDF format -- This item has been scanned by Randall Library staff. If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, it should open automatically and display the first page of the article. If the user does not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, they can visit the Adobe website at http://www.adobe.com to download and install the FREE software.
Link format -- This item is available in one of the full text databases to which the library subscribes. When you click on the link, you will see the article in the database or the scanned image of the article. Follow the instructions in the database to print or email the article. Scanned images will open in Adobe and allow viewing, saving or printing.
Read the article online, save or print it. If you wish to magnify the image online, in Adobe Acrobat click on the icon with the magnifying glass and + sign, then click inside the article window.
If you are having problems with this link, please delete cache and cookies, close/open the browser, and try again.
All reserve materials are listed in ERes, the library's course reserve system. You may search the course reserve materials by choosing Reserves from the library homepage or by clicking here
On the Library Homepage [http://library.uncw.edu] click on "Reserves" and then click the Reserves button. From the ERes page click on "Electronic Reserves and Reserves Pages".
From the e-reserves index page choose to search either by department or instructor (using the tabs at the top of the page or by the course number, course name, department or instructor using the drop-down menu. When the copyright message displays, click "Accept" to view the course page.
The course page displays and lists all materials on reserve. Document types include PDF, link or text formats. Clicking on the PDF or link formats will display the document's full text and allow you to view, download or print.
PDF format -- This item has been scanned by Randall Library staff. If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, it should open automatically and display the first page of the article. If the user does not have Adobe Acrobat Reader, they can visit the Adobe website at http://www.adobe.com to download and install the FREE software.
Link format -- This item is available in one of the full text databases to which the library subscribes. When you click on the link, you will see the article in the database or the scanned image of the article. Follow the instructions in the database to print or email the article. Scanned images will open in Adobe and allow viewing, saving or printing.
Read the article online, save or print it. If you wish to magnify the image online, in Adobe Acrobat click on the icon with the magnifying glass and + sign, then click inside the article window.
If you are having problems with this link, please delete cache and cookies, close/open the browser, and try again.
- Check out books, DVDs, other circulating libray material.
- Check out a laptop for in-building use
- Enter and use the graduate computer lab(2nd floor).
- Make photocopies and iPrints
- Buy drinks and coffee bar items
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Add money to your card (across from Randall Library Circulation Desk) or online
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View due dates for material checked out
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Renew materials
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Place holds on materials checked out by someone else
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View course reserve materials
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Access databases from off-campus
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Store, rerun or email alerts on "preferred searches"
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Request materials from other libraries -- articles (photocopies), books, dissertations
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Direct link from WorldCat if registration is set up
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Search 28,000 journals (no registration required)
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E-mail alerts on journals (50 titles maximum)
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E-mail alerts on saved searches (25 maximum)
A collection of juvenile literature is located on the second floor near the Curriculum Materials Center. These books are identified by the location "JUV" in the Library's system. Within this collection all of the nonfiction books are arranged using the Dewey Decimal Classification Schedule (DDC). Below is the general subject breakdown of the DDC and some tips for reading DDC call numbers so you may successfully locate books on the shelf. If you need further assistance, ask for assistance at the Reference Desk.
Outline of the Dewey Decimal Classification Schedule
000 Generalities 010 Bibliography 020 Library & information sciences 030 General encyclopedic works 040 [unassigned] 050 General serial publications 060 General organizations & museology 070 News media, journalism, publishing 080 General collections 090 Manuscripts & rare books 100 Philosophy & psychology 110 Metaphysics 120 Epistemology, causation, humankind 130 Paranormal phenomena 140 Specific philosophical schools 150 Psychology 160 Logic 170 Ethics (Moral philosophy) 180 Ancient, medieval, Oriental philosophy 190 Modern western philosophy 200 Religion 210 Philosophy & theory of religion 220 Bible 230 Christianity Christian theology 240 Christian moral & devotional theology 250 Christian orders & local church 260 Social & ecclesiastical theology 270 History of Christianity & Christian church 280 Christian denominations & sects 290 Comparative religion & other religions 300 Social sciences 310 Collections of general statistics 320 Political science 330 Economics 340 Law 350 Public administration & military science 360 Social problems & services; association 370 Education 380 Commerce, communications, transportation 390 Customs, etiquette, folklore 400 Language 410 Linguistics 420 English & Old English 430 Germanic languages German 440 Romance languages French 450 Italian, Romanian, Rhaeto-Romanic 460 Spanish & Portuguese languages 470 Italic languages Latin 480 Hellenic languages Classical Greek 490 Other languages |
500 Natural sciences & mathematics 510 Mathematics 520 Astronomy & allied sciences 530 Physics 540 Chemistry & allied sciences 550 Earth sciences 560 Paleontology Paleozoology 570 Life sciences Biology 580 Plants 590 Animals 600 Technology (Applied sciences) 610 Medical sciences Medicine 620 Engineering & allied operations 630 Agriculture & related technologies 640 Home economics & family living 650 Management & auxiliary services 660 Chemical engineering 670 Manufacturing 680 Manufacture for specific uses 690 Buildings 700 The arts Fine and decorative arts 710 Civic & landscape art 720 Architecture 730 Plastic arts Sculpture 740 Drawing & decorative arts 750 Painting & paintings 760 Graphic arts Printmaking & prints 770 Photography & photographs 780 Music 790 Recreational & performing arts 800 Literature & rhetoric 810 American literature in English 820 English & Old English literatures 830 Literatures of Germanic languages 840 Literatures of Romance languages 850 Italian, Romanian, Rhaeto-Romanic 860 Spanish & Portuguese literatures 870 Italic literatures Latin 880 Hellenic literatures Classical Greek 890 Literatures of other languages 900 Geography & history 910 Geography & travel 920 Biography, genealogy, insignia 930 History of ancient world to ca. 499 940 General history of Europe 950 General history of Asia Far East 960 General history of Africa 970 General history of North America 980 General history of South America 990 General history of other areas |
- Every Dewey Decimal (DDC) call number begins with three numbers (003 is never written as 3 in DDC), some with decimal numbers followed by various letters, and/or number combinations.
- Numbers to the left of the decimal point in Dewey call numbers are whole numbers. Therefore, 015 comes before 150.
- Numbers to the right of the decimal point in DDC call numbers are decimal numbers. Therefore, 970.13 comes before 970.3.
The following call numbers are in correct shelf order for the reasons given:
- 468.642 Ab2a
- 468.642 Al1c 1995 - Al comes after Ab
- 970 T16n - 970 (970.000) is a large number than 468.642
- 970 We 37 - We comes after T alphabetically
- 970.01 C72: - 970.01 is larger than 970 (970.0000)
- 970.13 B61d - 970.13 is larger than 970.3
- 970.3 B36o - 970.3 (970.300) is larger than 970.13 (970.130)
You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download for free here.
To access databases from off-campus, renew materials online that you have checked out, access electronic reserve readings, and place holds on materials that are currently checked out by another patron:
- Access the PIN Login screen
- Enter your first or last name
- Enter your University ID
- Enter a library PIN up to 30 letters, numbers, or both. Do not use symbols.
- If this is the first time you have set a PIN the next screen will ask you to enter the PIN twice.
- Your PIN is now set.
- If you have any difficulty, please contact the reference desk at 962-3760.
Try it now!
What is a PIN?
A PIN (or Personal Identification Number) is your secret code which is known only to you and which guarantees the privacy of your library record. Your library PIN functions in much the same way as PINs for banking ATM cards and credit cards. When selecting your PIN, you may use up to 30 letters, numbers, or a combination of letters and numbers. You should make your PIN something you can easily remember but something others will not know and cannot easily guess.
NOTE: The system will prevent the creation of trivial PINs; a PIN is trivial if it contains:
- a character that is repeated 3 or more times (aaa, aaaa. . . ).
- a set of 2, 3, or 4 characters that is repeated 2 or more times (abab,abcabc,abcdabcd. . . ).
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The Brunswick Power Plant is being re-licensed and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has requested that Randall Library make materials dealing with this process available to the public. It has been placed on Reserve under the course name Brunswick Power Plant.
You can also find it by doing a "Reserves" quick search: Brunswick. The title of the document is Brunswick Steam Electric Plant License Application Renewal. It’s call number is P/C Brunswick Plant. Members of the public can check this out by showing some kind of identification at the Circulation Desk. It is building use only.
You can also search the catalog for the item and locate this information. It is best to do a title search with all or the first part of the title but if you want to go through lots of search results, you may search for this by typing in keywords.
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