Borrowing Books & Other Materials

Essential information about using your library: how to get a library card, borrowing privileges, loan periods, renewals, overdue fines, placing holds or requests, and searching for materials. A one-stop guide to help you understand and manage your library accounts and make the most of all borrowing options available.

• How do I get a library card?

  YOUR VIKING CARD IS YOUR LIBRARY CARD!

  Students, staff and faculty of CSU must have a valid Viking Card to borrow library materials. CSU faculty may give written permission for another person to charge out and renew materials in their names, but the faculty member remains responsible for the return of materials so charged.

  COURTESY PATRONS (community users, alumni, visiting patrons, and retirees).
  more about Courtesy Patrons

  All Ohio residents are welcome to use the Library for free access to government documents and to library resources to the extent permitted by license agreements within the facility.

  Visiting Patrons: If you are from another OhioLINK institution, verify with your home institution what ID is needed to check items out of the CSU Library.

  Ohio residents Extended services are available to Ohio residents upon individual application. The cost for one year is $100.00. Loan policies depend upon patron category and material type.

  CSU alumni and retirees may retain borrowing privileges by applying for Courtesy Patron status at no charge. Borrowing privileges and library services may be limited or denied to any patron who, in the judgment of the Library, has abused or misused Library privileges.

  For further information about extended services and obtaining Courtesy Patron privileges, visit Services for Courtesy Patrons, stop at the Library and Research Help Desk, or call us at (216) 687-2479

• How many books may I check out?
  Undergraduate students: 50 items
  Graduate students/assistants: 75 items
  CSU Faculty/Staff: 200 items
  Alumni: 15 items
  Friends of the Library: 50 items
  Courtesy Patrons: 15 items
• How long may I keep the materials I check out?
  BOOK LOAN PERIODS FOR CURRENT STUDENTS, FACULTY & STAFF

  Undergraduate students: four weeks
  Graduate students/assistants: three months
  Honors Students: three months
  CSU Faculty/Staff: six months
  

  BOOK LOAN PERIODS FOR COURTESY PATRONS

  Alumni, affiliates, and volunteers: three weeks
  Friends of the Library: three weeks
  Community Users (with a current paid account): three weeks
  

  LOAN PERIODS FOR PRINT TEXTBOOKS

  Print textbooks from the Textbook Center may be checked out for 2 hours Since print textbooks are being shared with everyone taking the same class, there is a $1.00 per hour overdue fee for any materials returned late. Please be considerate of your classmates and return them on time.
  Two hours not enough? Remember, the library has FREE self-serve scanners, allowing you to scan materials directly to an email address, USB drive, or Google Drive account. You can print your scanned content from any campus computer using your PaperCut print balance.

  LOAN PERIODS FOR MULTIMEDIA MATERIALS

  Multimedia items (CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, and LPs) circulate to current CSU Faculty, students, and staff only and may be checked out for 7 days.

  LOAN PERIODS FOR OHIOLINK MATERIALS

  The OhioLINK loan period for CSU students, faculty, and staff is six weeks (42 days) for most items.
  OhioLINK items may be renewed at the discretion of the lending library up to six times unless a hold has been placed by another borrower. Holds are permitted for materials that are due 10 or fewer days in the future or 10 or less days overdue.

  For more information about borrowing materials from OhioLINK and SearchOhio, review the sections below.

• How can I renew a book?
  All regular circulating materials may be renewed four times if no one has requested or placed a hold on the item. Renewals may be made:

  - In person,
  - by calling the Library and Research Help Desk at (216) 687-2479, or
  - online via the My Library Account option in Discovery.

  Exceptions:

  - All materials are subject to recall after ten days of use if requested by another patron.
  - Materials needed for Course Reserve or other priority purposes are subject to immediate recall.
  - Renewals on Interlibrary Loan materials are strictly at the discretion of the lending library. To request a renewal, please log in to your Interlibrary Loan account, email us at library.ill@csuohio.edu or call us at 216-687-2445.
• Can I request books online and pick them up later?

  Yes! When you find a book or other circulating item you want in Discovery, click on the Get It button in the item record. Then select a pickup location for your requests. Allow two business days for processing. We'll let you know when your items are ready.

  What if the materials I need are not on the shelf?
  The staff at the Library and Research Help Desk will determine whether requested materials are checked out and will place a hold or recall on items as requested. If needed materials are missing but not checked out, a search of the shelves will be made. The Library will attempt to find and report on all requests in a timely manner.

  Searches will be conducted for Courtesy Patrons, but we are only able to recall materials for current students, faculty, & staff.

• What if my materials are overdue?

  Fines for overdue materials vary according to patron and material type:

  - Regular circulating materials: $.25 per item per day. Items 30 days or more overdue will be billed a replacement fee of $90.00. When the item is returned, the fee will be reduced to $15.00.

  - Reserve materials: $1.00 per hour or fraction per item, up to $24.00 per day.

  - OhioLINK materials: $.50 per day. Items 30 days or more overdue will be billed a replacement fee of $125.00. When the item is returned, the fee will be reduced to $50.00.

  - Interlibrary Loan materials: Fines for overdue Interlibrary Loan (ILL) items are $.50 per day. Items 30 days or more overdue will be billed a replacement fee of $125.00. When the item is returned, the fee will be reduced to $50.00.

  - Recalls: $1.00 per day per item not returned by the recall due date.

  Overdue notices are sent to the patron's CSU email address. For regular circulating materials first notices are sent when materials are three days overdue, and second notices are sent when materials are fourteen days overdue. For special materials: overdue procedures and penalties as posted in the service areas.
  If you wish to question the validity of an overdue charge, use our Overdues Inquiry Form.

  Invoices are issued to all patron categories when regular circulating materials are thirty days overdue. Invoices are referred to the Bursar's Office for processing in accordance with their policies and procedures. Invoices may be paid at the Michael Schwartz Library or the Bursar's Office. Refunds will be issued for replacement fees if materials are found and returned to the library before the invoice goes to a collection agency.

• How do I return books?

  Materials may be returned directly to the Library and Research Help Desk, located directly in front of the library's entrance; or to the after-hours book drop outside the east end front entrance to Rhodes Tower.

• What are the rules for borrowing books from OHIOLINK?

  Current CSU students, faculty, staff, courtesy patrons, and registered borrowers may request materials from OhioLINK libraries if they are not owned or available through our own collections. A valid CSU Viking Card or an active community user account is required.

  You may access OhioLINK materials directly through DISCOVERY @ CSU by selecting "CSU Books & Media + OhioLINK" in the search bar. When you find an item you would like to borrow, be sure you're logged in, then:

  - Click “Get It” in the Get It from Other Locations section.

  - Select your pickup location, indicate the volume (if applicable), specify the latest date you need the request, and provide any additional notes.

  You will receive an email notification at your CSU email address when your materials are ready for pickup. You may also track the status of your requests by visiting "My Library Account".

  The loan period for CSU students is 3 weeks for most items. The loan period for faculty and staff is 6 weeks. An item may be renewed up to six times unless a hold has been placed by another OhioLINK borrower. Holds are allowed for materials that are due 10 or fewer days in the future or 10 or less days overdue.

  Media items such as CD's or DVD's have a loan period of 1 week and are may be renewed up to 3 times. Please contact the Library Help Desk or the OhioLINK office for assistance with renewal of overdue items.

  Fines for overdue OhioLINK items are $.50 per day. You may be blocked from borrowing if items are seriously overdue. A $125.00 replacement fee will be charged for all OhioLINK books 30 or more days overdue and reduced to $50.00 when the book is returned.

  If you have any questions or if you wish to know the status of your request, you may call the Michael Schwartz Library's OhioLINK Office at (216) 687-2385.

• What are the rules for borrowing books from the CPL@CSU collection?

  The CPL@CSU Collection provides the campus community with contemporary and popular books, both fiction and non-fiction, courtesy of the Cleveland Public Library. These books belong to the Cleveland Public Library, but anyone with a valid Cleveland Public Library card can check out these titles using the CPL self-checkout station located near the Lounge. The loan period for these books is 21 days, after which the books may be renewed.

More questions? We're here for you...reach out! Give us a call at (216) 687-2479, or stop in and see us at the Library and Research Help Desk, located directly in front of the library's entrance.