Borrowing Books & Other Materials

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.

If you are from another OhioLINK institution you may use your school's ID to check items out of the CSU Library.

Ohio residents Courtesy Patron status is available for Ohio residents. 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.

A faculty member may give written permission for another person to charge out and renew materials in his/her name, but the faculty member is responsible for the return of materials so charged.

How Many Items May I Check Out?

Can I Request Books Online & Pick Them Up Later?

Yes! When you find a book or other circulating item you want in Scholar, the CSU catalog, click on the Request Item button at the top of the screen. Then select a pickup location for your requests. Allow two business days for processing. We'll let you know when your items are ready.

How Long May I Keep the Materials I Check Out?

For regular circulating materials, the loan periods are as follows:

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.

Go to OhioLink and SearchOhio or information about their loan periods and renewals.

How Can I Renew a Book?

All regular circulating materials may be renewed four times if no one has requested the volume.

Renewals may be made:

• in person,
• by calling the Library and Research Help Desk at (216) 687-2479, or
• online via Scholar's MY ACCOUNT option.

Exceptions:

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.

Fines on regular circulating materials are at $.25 per day per item.

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 the 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.

What If Materials 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 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.

A search for materials will be conducted for Community Users, but recall services are not available for this patron category.

OhioLINK Materials

Patrons of the Cleveland State University Libraries who are registered borrowers here may initiate loans from OhioLINK libraries for materials not owned by, or not available from, our collections. You must have a valid CSU Viking Card or community user's card.

You can access the OhioLINK central catalog directly or through Scholar. When you locate an item you would like to borrow, click on REQUEST THIS ITEM. You will be prompted for information to validate your borrower's status, where you wish to pick up the material, and whether or not to process the request.

You will be notified via email to your CSU email account when materials have arrived. You can also track the progress of your requests by clicking on the MY ACCOUNT link in the navigation bar at the bottom of this page or by using the MY ACCOUNT option in Scholar.

The loan period for CSU students is 3 weeks for most items. The loan period for Staff and Faculty 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 and Research 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.

SearchOhio Materials

Registered borrowers also have access to over 9.5 million popular books, DVDs and CDs through SearchOhio, a network of 19 public library systems throughout the state. If a search in the OhioLINK Central Catalog does not bring up the item you are looking for, click on the "SearchOhio" icon to search their catalog. Materials acquired through SearchOhio can be picked up at CSU.

The loan period for SearchOhio is 21 days for books and 7 days for media items. You may renew books and media items up to 3 times.

What Are the Rules for the 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. Anyone with a valid 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.