Ohio residents, not directly affiliated with Cleveland State University as a faculty, staff, or student, are welcome to use the Cleveland State University Library as long as they adhere to the Library’s Conduct Rules for Library Use and other posted regulations.

Ohio residents may have free access to government documents and to library resources to the extent permitted by license agreements within the facility and may obtain information about those resources via computer terminals provided for looking up library holdings.

EXTENDED SERVICES

The following extended services are available to Ohio residents upon individual application and after payment of a yearly fee of $35.00. This fee is paid on the date of application and is non-refundable. A community user ID number will be issued and will be required to access extended services.

• Community users may borrow a maximum of five items upon payment of the application fee. Upon receipt of the permanent borrower’s card, the community user may check out additional materials, but at no time can the community user have more than fifteen (15) items checked out.
• Community users may check out items from the general collection for three weeks and can renew items from the general collection three times, by phone or in person..
• Community users have Interlibrary Loan borrowing privileges with the following restrictions:
  • Photocopies are limited to ten (10) copies per month
  • Community users must pay all expenses involved in obtaining items.
• Community users may use the Library’s general personal computers (PCs) to access Library resources, one hour per day, when such use does not physically prevent Cleveland State University students, faculty, and staff from obtaining access to the computers. Temporary additional computer access time may be available upon petition to the Library Director.
• Each Community user must use the Library’s general computers (PCs) for appropriate purposes, must, if asked to, close the PC and leave the library for violating library policy, and agrees that if s/he refuses to leave, s/he will be committing a trespass on University Library property.
• Community users do not have off campus access to CSU licensed databases but may borrow up to 5 items through OhioLINK patron-initiated borrowing.

Applications

Applications for Community User Cards are available on the first floor at the User Services desk. Applications will not be accepted within thirty minutes of Library closing time.

Two pieces of identification will be needed, including a driver’s license or identification card from the state of Ohio or a valid identification card from an OhioLINK institution.

Renewal of Services

A community user card is good for one year and may be renewed on a yearly basis as long as the user is in good standing with Cleveland State University. A community user who refuses to comply with this Policy or to follow the Conduct Rules for Library Use will be asked to forfeit his user card. No refund will be provided.