Urag gro - Shub Urag gro - Shub is an Orsimer mage and the librarian of the Arcanaeum at the College of Winterhold in Skyrim . He is known for his strict and stern attitude . He is a merchant of books and takes his job very seriously . He initiates the " Hitting the Books " quest when the Dragonborn approaches him , requesting research materials for The Eye of Magnus . The books Urag sells and requests vary over time . Personality . Urag takes his work as the librarian in the Arcanaeum very seriously , he shows this when he says , " " I better not see you treating all of these books poorly , are we clear ? " " Urag will keep an aggressive attitude even after the Dragonborn becomes Arch - Mage . He will however , adopt a more respectful attitude towards them if they give him an Elder Scroll . Interactions . Ancient Falmer Tomes . Four ancient tomes written in the Falmer Language are scattered throughout the Forgotten Vale . They can be sold to Urag gro - Shub at the College . For each Unknown Book , he will award 1000 and a translated version of that book . Elder Knowledge . After speaking to Paarthurnax about learning Dragonrend , the Dragonborn needs to recover an Elder Scroll to travel back in time to Alduin ' s defeat atop the Throat of the World . Urag gro - Shub is able to provide the Dragonborn with two texts on Elder Scrolls , " Effects of the Elder Scrolls " and " Ruminations on the Elder Scrolls " , one of which is author ed by Septimus Signus . As a former member of the college , Urag knows his whereabouts and directs the Dragonborn to him . If the Dragonborn collects the Elder Scroll at Alftand , it can later be sold to Urag for 2 , 000 . In , the Dragonborn requires the same Elder Scroll for the quest " Scroll Scouting . " If the Dragonborn sold it to Urag , he sells it for 4 , 000 . Alternatively , he can be persuade d to sell it back for 3 , 000 . An Arch - Mage Dragonborn can purchase the scroll back for 2 , 000 , if he is far enough in the story line . Fetch Me That Book ! . After joining the College of Winterhold , Urag may send the Dragonborn to collect various rare books . He pays the Dragonborn with as a reward . Once enough are collected , he sends word to the Orc strongholds so that the Dragonborn can gain entry . Hitting the Books . After finding the books at Fellglow Keep , Urag rewards the Dragonborn with six skill books : " Racial Phylogeny " , " Daughter of the Niben " , " Catalogue of Weapon Enchantments " , " Response to Bero ' s Speech " , " The Black Arts On Trial " , and " 2920 , vol 09 - Hearth Fire " . Shalidor ' s Insights . Urag requires assistance with locating " Shalidor ' s Insights " , rare manuscripts scattered across Skyrim . Scroll Scouting . The Dragonborn needs the scroll once again , and it can be purchased from Urag if it has been sold to him once before . Lecture . Urag gro - Shub delivers a lecture on Shalidor and his texts , writings and research and the College ' s need to recover the ancient research . The lecture is held in the Hall of the Elements , during which most of the members of the College come to listen to his lecture . After he finishes , everyone goes back to their usual schedule . Wares . Urag gro - Shub sells various books , including exceptionally rare ones . Sometimes , he sells books that share the same name as ones needed for " Fetch Me That Book ! " , though these cannot be turned in for that quest , they may be read without bug occurring , See Below . Some of these books are difficult to locate elsewhere .