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OhioLINK FAQ

What is OhioLINK?
The Ohio Library and Information Network, OhioLINK, is a consortium of 88 Ohio college and university libraries, and the State Library of Ohio, that work together to provide Ohio students, faculty and researchers with the information they need for teaching and research. Serving more than 600,000 students, faculty, and staff at 89 institutions, OhioLINK’s membership includes 16 public/research universities, 23 community/technical colleges, 49 private colleges and the State Library of Ohio.

Together, OhioLINK an dits member libraries provide access to:

For more information, please visit the About OhioLINK section of this Web site.

Who can use OhioLINK?
Several resources are freely available to anyone via the Internet. To access other OhioLINK services such as online borrowing, the research databases and the Electronic Journal Center, you must be a current student, faculty or staff member at an OhioLINK member institution.

Many of these same databases are also available to all Ohioans through their local public or school libraries. Contact OPLIN, INFOhio, or your local library for more information.

OhioLINK services are provided to Ohio colleges and universities through campus libraries. We do not provide individual memberships or services outside of Ohio.

I need help using OhioLINK resources. Whom can I contact?
If you need assistance using OhioLINK resources or conducting research, consult with the staff at your own campus library. Check your library Web site or contact your library for help.

You can also chat with a librarian online for assistance via KnowItNow Academic. KnowItNow Academic unites the information expertise of academic, public, and special librarians, the comprehensive resources of Ohio’s libraries, and advanced technology to meet your information needs whenever you need it, wherever you are.

If you’re having problems connecting to OhioLINK databases and other resources from off-campus, please see the remote authentication help page. If you have questions about borrowing books and other physical library materials from OhioLINK libraries, please see the OhioLINK Catalog and Online Borrowing FAQ. Contact your library for more assistance.

If you are not affiliated with an OhioLINK library or have additional questions about OhioLINK, please use this form to contact us. Questions are usually answered within 48 hours.

Is there a fee to use OhioLINK?
No. Students, faculty and staff members of OhioLINK institutions have access to OhioLINK resources and services at no charge.

How are OhioLINK and library resources different from those found on the free Internet?
When you need authoritative, scholarly information for class assignments or research always turn to OhioLINK and your local library first. While the Internet can also be useful in the research process, you have to watch out for broken links, unverified information, questionable results from search engines and fees for full-text materials. Web sites suggested by search engines may not provide access to the information of recognized authority and scholarly, research literature (such as peer-reviewed journals) that you need for classes or research.

Why can’t I use the OhioLINK research databases?
Only current students, faculty and staff members of OhioLINK colleges and universities may use the OhioLINK research databases. We must impose these restrictions due to the licensing agreements we have with database vendors.

Why isn’t “Journal X” available in the Electronic Journal Center?
The Electronic Journal Center currently contains journals from the publishers listed here. OhioLINK has ongoing negotiations with additional publishers.

Why are issues missing in the Electronic Journal Center?
Some journals have missing issues, or issues that seem to be late. To researchers who become used to the convenience of online journals, missing issues cause frustration. You can find out the status of missing EJC journal issues using OhioLINK’s Serials Check In and Claiming System. The system provides answers to questions such as: has the issue been claimed from the publisher, what issues are unavailable and, when applicable, notes of why the issue is not available. Follow these steps to check for information on a missing EJC issue:

  1. Go to http://serials.ohiolink.edu/search
  2. Search for the journal in question
  3. Click on the “latest received” link
  4. Look for information about the issue in question

Unfortunately, OhioLINK staff cannot make any projections about when or if publisher will supply missing issues or articles. If you have a time-sensitive need for the article, or other questions please contact your library for assistance in finding the information elsewhere (print, or interlibrary loan if your library does not subscribe to print).

Can I access OhioLINK from home?
Yes, remote access is available at www.ohiolink.edu. A campus ID number is required. If you do not know your ID number, contact your campus library’s circulation department. If you are having trouble connecting to OhioLINK databases from your home or office off-campus, please check our remote authentication help page. Some OhioLINK libraries also provide remote access through their Web sites; contact your library for more information.

Where can I pick up OhioLINK Materials?
OhioLINK users can pick up requested materials from any participating member library. Users will be asked to choose which location their items should be delivered to each time they request items online from the OhioLINK Library Catalog.

How will I know when my requested items are ready for pick up?
Generally, OhioLINK items are ready for pick up in 2-3 days. You can check on the status of your requested items by viewing your personal library record/account. You’ll need to log into your record/account from your local library’s Web site. Please contact your library if you have questions about checking your account/record.

Have a question not answered here?
If you’re having problems connecting to OhioLINK databases and other resources from off-campus, please see the remote authentication help page for the most common problems and solutions. If you have questions about borrowing books and other physical library materials from OhioLINK libraries, please see the online borrowing and OhioLINK Catalog and Online Borrowing FAQ. Contact your library for more assistance.

If you are not affiliated with an OhioLINK library or have additional questions about OhioLINK, please use this form to contact us. Questions are usually answered within 48 hours.

June 2009