Updated February 22, 2021
University Libraries locations are now open.
Although our locations are open, we encourage the use of our digital materials. Patrons affiliated with The Ohio State University can submit requests for physical materials held at Ohio State through the online catalog, for OhioLINK materials through the OhioLINK catalog, and for interlibrary loan items through ILLiad.
If you will be visiting Libraries locations in person, please make note of our service updates below.
Scanning and electronic delivery of materials from Thompson Library Special Collections, University Archives and Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum is available. You may submit requests via the email addresses listed below.
- Thompson Library Special Collections: thospcol@osu.edu
- University Archives: archives@osu.edu
- Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum: cartoons@osu.edu
Scanning of articles and chapters from Library print collections through ILLiad Article Express service is also available.
For answers to common questions regarding borrowed materials, circulation and more, please visit our FAQ page.
Questions?
Service Updates
- Masks are required in all University Libraries facilities.
- Eating and drinking are not permitted in the libraries.
- Group study room reservations and room rentals for all library locations are currently suspended.
- The book stacks will remain closed to the public. Materials must be requested through paging. Only University Libraries staff may remove books from shelves. Any books brought to the circulation desk by visitors will have to be quarantined and unavailable for up to five days.
- Requests for materials will be made online at library.osu.edu and picked up at the circulation or information desk within the library.
- Visitors are asked to maintain a safe physical distance of six feet apart. We have spaced out seating in our common areas and closed our group study rooms to help make this possible.
- Returned materials will be quarantined for five days and will remain on your account until the quarantine is complete and they have been checked in.
- Due to quarantine, OhioLINK and Interlibrary Loan requests may be delayed.
- Requests for new materials may take longer than normal to process.
Online Resources
University Libraries provides access to a wealth of virtual resources including journals, eBooks, articles and more. Use Discover to search all virtual Libraries content.
A searchable list of databases containing scholarly articles, many of which may be available as full-text. Additional full-text resources will be found under many of the subjects or formats listed.
Guides containing recommended library resources and services by academic subject.
A comprehensive guide created by the Teaching & Learning department to help instructors find affordable, virtual course materials.
Selections from University Libraries Special Collections
Materials from our Special Collections, digitized and made available online.
Online Journals and eBooks List
Locate a specific online journal or eBook title, browse a list of online journals or eBooks or identify online journals or eBook titles by subject.
The Knowledge Bank provides a permanent online home for the scholarly output of the university, including articles, journals, scholarly monographs, proceedings, presentations, reports, audio/video content and more.
Borrowing Materials
Visit our Borrowing and Lending page for up-to-date information on borrowing materials.
The Thompson Library book drop is open for contact-free return of library materials.
All returned materials will be quarantined for five days before being checked in and made available to other users. If you or a member of your household are ill, we ask that you continue to renew your materials and wait to return them until you have been symptom-free for 72 hours.
Course Reserves
Access to physical course reserves is suspended.
University Libraries is eager to assist you with your eResource needs. Please contact Zane Smith directly with questions.
Interlibrary Services
Scholarly articles and chapter PDFs for Ohio State and non-Ohio State collections can be requested through Article Express.
Requests for physical items through interlibrary loan can be requested through ILLiad.
Knowledge Bank and Publishing Services
The Ohio State University Libraries Publishing Program and Knowledge Bank services remain available and are open for business virtually. Please reach out to us via email at libkbhelp@lists.osu.edu with questions, consulting needs, to set up a meeting or for information about making your work openly available via the Knowledge Bank.
Special Collections
Scanning and electronic delivery of materials from Thompson Library Special Collections, University Archives and Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum is available. You may submit requests via the email addresses listed below.
- Thompson Library Special Collections: thospcol@osu.edu
- University Archives: archives@osu.edu
- Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum: cartoons@osu.edu
Special Collections Reading Rooms
The Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections Reading Rooms are now open by appointment only. You can find more information about each location at the links below.
The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Lucy Shelton Caswell Reading Room
To request an appointment, please email cartoons@osu.edu.
Thompson Library Special Collections
To request an appointment, please email thospcol@osu.edu
University Archives
To request an appointment, please email archives@osu.edu