The Ohio State University

Authorizations

Borrowing

Consumer Code of Conduct

Course Reserves

Mailing Items

OhioLINK

Columbus Metropolitan Library Leisure Items at Ohio State

Courtesy Cards

E-mail Notices

Fines & Charges

Guest Accounts

Holds

Lockers

Loss of Privileges

Recalls

Reciprocal Borrowing Privileges

Renew Books

View Your Record
 
 

Circulation Home
Libraries Home
OSU Home

The Libraries lending policies outlined below have been adopted by the Library Council, a committee of the University Senate.

Borrowing Library Materials

You are responsible for all materials borrowed on your ID. To meet this responsibility, you should monitor your borrowing record on a regular basis (we suggest weekly). The libraries send an email notices as a courtesy to patrons to aid you in keeping track of all your transactions and to renew items, but you should check your record regularly through the Libraries website(see the “View Your Circulation Record” section below). In monitoring your use, please follow these guidelines:

• Understand that OSU items due dates may vary by library location, item type (book, journal, etc.) and patron type (faculty, undergraduate, graduate, etc.). Also, a due date may be changed if someone else requests a book that you have checked out. OhioLINK materials circulate for 3 weeks to all patrons and may be renewed up to 4 times provided the item has not been requested by another patron.
• In order to avoid fines, please return or renew your materials on time. Items cannot be renewed if they have been recalled, are non-renewable, or if you have received a bill for them. You may request a receipt for every item you return.
• Please keep your address current and be sure to check your OSU e-mail to facilitate receiving courtesy notices on overdue items, recalls, and requests. To help us maintain your correct address please view your patron record regularly and take appropriate action if we have an incorrect address:
• If you are a student, make sure the Registrar also has your correct address.
• If you are an OSU employee (faculty, staff, or graduate assistant), make sure OSU Human Resources and your department also have your correct address. 

Files received regularly from the Registrar and OSU Human Resources will overlay information already in the Libraries' files.
• If you are not an OSU student or employee, please notify a Libraries' staff member to update this information in your record.

The quickest way to get the books you request into your hands is to select the Thompson Library as your pick-up location.

The libraries make deliveries to the Thompson Library 3 times daily to provide the quickest service for picking up items.

If you do not have a rush need for the items, patrons may prefer to have items sent to their office by selecting "COL CAMPUS OFFICE/DORM" as the pickup location. This service adds a few days to the delivery but saves patrons a trip into the library to pickup the items.

View Your Circulation Record

To access your circulation record, click on the "My Record" button on the Web OSCAR initial screen. You will be asked to supply your name and University ID Number. You may use this feature to:

• View items that you have checked out, renew them, and see if any have been recalled.
• View the status of items you have requested or cancel requests you have placed.
• View library fines and other charges to your account which may cause your account to be blocked if their total value is $75.00 or more. (see Fines and Fees below).
• View (but not update) your address as it appears in library records.

Request and Recall Information

You may request most circulating items listed as available or checked out. Available items will be retrieved and held for you at the library you select. A checked out item will be recalled from the current borrower and you will be sent a courtesy e-mail notice when the book is ready for pickup.

An item may be recalled from you by another patron at any time, which may change the item's due date. A courtesy e-mail notice will be sent notifying you of any recall(s) on your item(s) with a due date within 10 days from the date the request was placed on the item, or the original due date, whichever is greater.Please respond to these notices promptly. Overdue fines accrue at the rate of $10.00/day per recalled item. Items that have been recalled may not be renewed.

Fines and Fees

Fines

Fines will be charged for items that are not returned when needed by another borrower, i.e., items that have been recalled or any item(s) on Course Reserve. Materials that are not renewed and long overdue (varies due to loan periods) are considered Lost and will be billed at replacement fees. Most Reserve items, media and equipment will go lost and billed after much shorter periods depending on the loan period.

• Recalled Items--A fine of $10.00 per day per item is charged for recalled items not returned by the due date established at the time of recall. 
• Reserve Items--Overdue Course Reserve items accrue fines at the rate of $2.00 for the first hour and $5.00 for each additional hour per item. 1 day, 3 day and 1 Week Reserves are $5.00 for the first day and $10.00 per day thereafter. 
• Equipment--Fines for Laptops, Locker Keys, Headphones, etc. will vary and basically follow Reserve item overdue policy; please check with the lending location for details.
• OhioLINK Items--Unlike OSU, OhioLINK overdue fines are charged at the rate of $.50 per day whether the item has been recalled or not. OhioLINK items are assumed lost if overdue more than 30 days. A $50.00 fine will be charged for items that are assumed lost and then returned. 

Damaged Items

Based on the extent of damage to an item, the appropriate repair department will determine a fee for repair and that amount will be placed on the patron record. Please use the fine appeal form to contact the Sanctions Office with questions. 

Lost and Billed Items

Long overdue items are assumed lost, (Reserve items and Equipment are assumed lost and billed in less time varying in relation to their due dates) and a lost item fee will be added to the borrower's record. The fees are $140 per book and $170 per volume for bound journals, micro format items may have different charges, please check with the lending location for details. (the fee include a $40 processing fee, plus a billing fee of $10 for OSU items.) If the items are returned, the replacement/processing cost will be waived, but the billing fee will be retained (Note: OhioLINK items are assumed lost and billed at $125.00 if overdue 30 days or more. They have a billing fee of $50.00 that will be charged for item that are assumed lost and then returned.). Patrons with lost and billed items are blocked from borrowing until the charges are settled with the Libraries. 

In lieu of Lost and Billed charges, the Libraries provide the option to accept purchase of a replacement book with payment of the processing and billing fees noted above. Replacement copies must be approved thru the online appeal process. OhioLINK replacements must be approved by the owning institution; please use the fine appeal form to contact the Sanctions Office prior to purchasing a replacement book. 

Items reported as returned will be searched for promptly in all library locations. If the items are not found, you will be charged a replacement fee. 

Payment of Fines and Fees

Fines and fees owed to the University Libraries (excluding Health Sciences, Law Library and Regional Campus Libraries) can be paid online with Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. To make an online payment please use the online payment form.

Payment in person can be made using BuckID, check or credit cards at the Thompson Library, Business Office during regular office hours (M-F, 8:00am-4:30pm, closed holidays), or by phone (614) 292-2400 during office hours (credit cards only). Checks should be made out to The Ohio State University Libraries and should be mailed to: The Library Business Office, 122 Thompson Library, 1858 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 43202.

Payment plans are available; contact the Business Office for additional information. 

Loss of Borrowing Privileges

Fines and other fees of $75 or more automatically result in a suspension of borrowing privileges (sanctions) and a block placed on your University records, including registration, grades, transcripts, and receipt of financial aid. 

Sanctions and blocks are not removed until accounts are paid, or a successful appeal of the fine is made using the online appeal form. Payment plans are available. 

To pay a library fine you can use the online payment form or to set up a payment plan, please contact the Library Business Office (292-2400), room 122 Thompson Library, 1858 Neil Ave. Columbus, OH 43202 (hours M-F 8am-4:30pm, closed holidays). Health Sciences, Law and Regional campus items will have to inquire at those respective campus library locations. 

Appealing Library Fines and Fees

University Libraries make every effort to regulate fines according to well defined standards. However, under some circumstances you may have sound reasons for appealing a fine. Please review the Libraries' Circulation Policy and procedure prior to filing an appeal.

All Appeals must be submitted using the online appeal form.

Patrons can expect a response within 5 business days during normal activity levels.

Appeals must be submitted using the form within ninety days (3) months of the fine date to be considered. Please include copies of receipts, library notices, and other useful documentation when submitting the online appeal form. 

All reasonable concerns related to Library charges will be considered; however, the following are NOT considered reasons on which an appeal can be based: 

• Lack of understanding of Library policies. Circulation policies are available on the web and are the responsibility of the patron to read and understand. 
• Unwillingness to take responsibility for materials checked out to you which you loaned to another person or allowed others to use. 
• Non-receipt, late receipt, or inattention to library mail. Renewal reminders are sent as a courtesy by the Libraries; therefore, it is the patrons' responsibility to monitor their circulation records and ensure prompt renewal of items with or without these reminders. Patrons not reading e-mail due to conferences, vacations, holidays, quarter breaks, etc, are still responsible for responding. It is the patron’s responsibility to make arrangements for maintenance of their account during these times of absence. 

Books by Campus Mail

Faculty, staff, and students with a campus address may choose to have books mailed to them at that address by choosing "COL CAMPUS OFFICE/DORM" as their pickup location by Campus Mail Before choosing this option, view your patron record to verify that you have a valid campus address.  

Patrons choosing to have books mailed to their campus address are responsible for the material from the time it is checked out to them. Materials are checked out to patrons before they are sent in Campus Mail. Patrons continue to be responsible until the material is checked in at any Ohio State University or OhioLINK library. We encourage you to return all library materials in person at an OSU Libraries circulation desk. You may request a receipt for returned items.

Books may also be returned using the outdoor book drop located just outside the Loading Dock area at the Thompson Library.

The quickest way to get the books you request into your hands is to select the Thompson Library as your pick-up location.  Choosing -My Office- typically adds two to three days delivery time.  The libraries make deliveries to the Thompson Library 3 times daily to provide the quickest service for picking up items.  If you do not have a rush need for the items, patrons may prefer to have items sent to their office by selecting -My Office- as the pickup location. This service adds a few days to the delivery but saves patrons a trip into the library to pickup the items.  

Library Notices Via Email

As a courtesy, The Ohio State University Libraries send request, recall, overdue, billing, and cancellation notices to your OSU e-mail address. E-mail notification service provides uninterrupted delivery of your library notices throughout the year, including quarter breaks and summer quarter. To avoid library fines, you can:

• View Your Circulation Record to identify items that are RECALLED or OVERDUE. 
• check your e-mail regularly even when you are away (we suggest weekly). 

Course Reserve

Instructors may place items on Electronic Reserve, or Paper Reserves in any library for restricted use. Reserve items may include OSU Libraries Materials, personal copies, and photocopies (materials not subject to copyright) prepared by the instructor. Paper reserve loan periods may range from 2 hours to 7 days at the instructors option. Electronic reserves are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Multiple users can view the same materials at the same time. Links to faculty specified websites (URL's) can be included. To allow adequate retrieval and processing time, faculty should submit their requests at least 3 weeks in advance of the quarter in which they will be needed. 

Faculty/Staff Authorization

OSU faculty and staff may authorize one or more persons to borrow and request library materials under the authorizing person’s name; the authorizing person is responsible for all transactions done by the designated individuals. To make such an authorization, print off a Faculty Authorization Request Form, supply the requested information, and submit the form to any OSU Libraries Circulation Desk. Please contact any OSU library if you have questions or would like further information.

Thompson Library Lockers

There are two types of lockers available in the Thompson Library:

Graduate/Faculty Lockers which will be allocated quarterly using a lottery system. These lockers are located on the 4th floor of the Thompson Library and will be re-allocated each quarter. Applications for Graduate/Faculty lockers will be accepted until the end of the 1st week of the quarter. A lottery will be used and lottery winners will be notified the 2nd week of classes. Graduate/Faculty keys to lockers must be returned during the 10th week of the quarter to avoid fines and/or replacement charges.

Daily Lockers are available for OSU Faculty, Staff, Students and affiliated patrons in the Alumni database and Friends members, or in the OSUL database with a valid record. These lockers are available at the Oval Entrance Circulation Desk (East Entrance) and will be checked out to your Library Record. All keys for daily lockers are due before 12 midnight of the same day. Fines will accrue hourly and a replacement charge will apply if not returned after 3 days.

OhioLINK

When a book you need is not available at OSU Libraries you may request it from OhioLINK, a statewide information network which includes an online central catalog of member libraries' holdings.

If you have done a search in OSU's catalog and learned that the item either isn't owned or is unavailable at OSU, the search can be automatically transferred to the OhioLINK Central Catalog. In the OSU catalog, click on the OhioLINK Catalog button in the upper right portion of the screen; For information about tracking your OhioLINK request click on the following link tracking link.

Please note that pickup notices for OhioLINK materials are sent via email only. If you do not have an email address in your record, please follow the instructions in View Your Circulation Record, above, to see when a requested book is ready for pick up.

OhioLINK books may be borrowed for 21 days with up to 4 renewals of 21 days each, provided another request has not been placed on the item. If a request is placed on the item you will not be able to renew it. Unlike OSU, OhioLINK overdue fines are charged at the rate of $.50 per day from the due date, whether the item has been recalled or not.

Courtesy patrons are limited to 5 OhioLINK items at any time on their record. This includes items in transit too and from locations.

Books may be delivered for pickup to the OSU library most convenient to you or may be delivered to a valid campus office address by choosing "COL CAMPUS OFFICE/DORM" as their pickup location. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact any library or the Library Circulation Department , phone 292-OSUL(6785). 

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.

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.

Reciprocal Borrowing Privileges

CIC (Committee on Institutional Cooperation)

OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program:

Ohio State Faculty are eligible for borrowing privileges and on-site access to collections at other participating institutions. Over 175 major research libraries in the United States and Canada participate in this program. Please contact Circulation Services to see if the institution(s) you plan to visit participate in this program.

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.