Services for Non-OSU Patrons

Courtesy Card Information

A courtesy card extends library borrowing privileges to persons not affiliated with OSU (i.e. not enrolled in classes, not OSU employees). Please contact the OSU Libraries at 292-OSUL (6785) to determine if you are eligible for a courtesy card.

Courtesy Patrons may have a maximum of 5 OhioLINK items checked out, this includes items in transit to and from borrowing/lending institutions.

Courtesy cards are issued at the Circulation Desk of Thompson Library, Health Sciences Library , Law Library and Regional Libraries. A courtesy card allows you to borrow any regularly circulated items, including items available through OhioLINK, but may not give you access to all library services. For instance, Interlibrary Loan, many licensed OhioLINK databases and E-Journals are not available to courtesy patron due to licensing agreements. (A courtesy card is issued at the discretion of the Library. All courtesy card holders are subject to the same policies as the University community and are responsible to return and renew materials in a timely manner). Please contact the appropriate library for specific information relating to your individual situation.

Guest Accounts for Non-OSU users

To resolve security, performance and other issues that affect the OSU community, the OSU Office of Information Technology must be able to trace network activity that originates from an OSU computer back to the user. Specifically, users of workstations, laptops, dial-up modem pools, wireless networks, VPN concentrators, and proxies are required to authenticate before they can access the Internet.

Guest Authentication Policy: Non-OSU users must get a Guest Authentication account from staff at Library Circulation Desks in order to use designated computers when available in campus libraries. Guest users must also show proof of identification using at least one of the following VALID picture IDs: (U.S. driver's license, passport, School ID, State of Ohio ID). Library staff will enter the information and ID into the online OSU Guest Authentication System. A Guest slip which contains the guest user name and password will be printed for the guest's use. The guest account authorization must be used in the location where it is issued, must only be used by the user it is issued to and will automatically expire at the end of the activation period. Internet access is provided as a courtesy for guest users to be used as a scholarly research tool. Users are required to follow the Policy on Responsible Use of University Computing and Network Resources (http://cio.osu.edu/policies/responsible_use.html).

The following rules apply to using computing equipment within the University Libraries:

1. Computing resources in the University Libraries are provided primarily for the use of the students, staff, and faculty of the Ohio State University and for public use of the United States Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) Collection. To help manage the availability of Internet computers for this purpose, chat groups, dating services and online games are not permitted.

2. OSU students, staff, and faculty have priority for all computers. The Library reserves the right to limit the amount of time a guest may occupy a computer. Users are expected to comply when asked by Library staff to relinquish a computer.

3. Patrons with guest accounts are not permitted in OIT computer labs and must use designated public computing sites. Please ask the Circulation desk for available computers.

Consequences of Misuse:

The University Libraries reserves the right to deny use of computer equipment and/or to have non-compliant patrons leave the library if they are found to be in violation of any part of this policy. In addition, reported misconduct, including but not limited to: viewing of pornographic materials, loud, threatening or any disruptive behavior,see (Consumer Code of Conduct) will be reason for denial of any future guest privileges, these and other acts may also be reported to Library Security and University Police as appropriate. Repeat offenders and/or abuse of guest accounts will result in denial of future access privileges.

Columbus Metropolitan Library at Ohio State

The Columbus Metropolitan Library and The Ohio State University Libraries have partnered to provide a Leisure Reading Collection in the newly renovated Thompson Library at OSU.

CML has provided a collection of books available for checkout at the OSU Thompson Library.

Patrons can check out selected CML fiction, non-fiction and Juvenile books located in the Leisure Reading area of the Thompson Library.

Patrons can use their CML Library Card to check out materials.

Patrons that do not have a CML Library Card and meet eligibility requirements can request a card, at the Thompson Library circulation desk.

CML books can be returned to the Thompson Library circulation desk.

Patrons choosing to return CML books to other OSU Library locations are still responsible for any item(s) lost in transit to the Thompson Library.