Frequently Asked Questions
What is OhioLINK?
What is the OhioLINK Library
Catalog?
Who can borrow items through OhioLINK?
How do I request an item?
How long do requested items take to arrive? Will I be notified when they’re ready for pick up?
Must my requested OhioLINK items be delivered to my campus?
How can I see what OhioLINK materials I have requested or checked out?
How do I renew an OhioLINK book online?
How will I know when my requested items are
ready for pick up?
What is the loan period for items
borrowed through OhioLINK?
What are the fines for overdue OhioLINK
items?
Whom should I contact about problems
requesting materials, fine disputes, etc.?
How do I cancel a request for an OhioLINK
item?
What if I can’t find the item
I’m looking for?
What is the Center for Research
Libraries?
What is OhioLINK?
OhioLINK is a state-funded consortium of Ohio university and college libraries and the State Library of Ohio. Students, faculty members, and staff members affiliated with OhioLINK institutions can request books online, view journal articles online, search authoritative databases, and make use of other OhioLINK services that enhance research and education.
OhioLINK’s home page is http://www.ohiolink.edu/.
What is the OhioLINK Library Catalog?
The OhioLINK Library Catalog is a virtual statewide library listing items owned by OhioLINK libraries. The catalog provides bibliographic descriptions and indicates where copies are located and whether copies are available.
Resources described:
books · journals and periodicals · audiovisual
materials · sound recordings · electronic
resources · government documents · archives and
manuscripts · maps · music scores.
Who can borrow items through OhioLINK?
People who are registered users at OhioLINK libraries, and those with a library account at Cuyahoga County Public Library and Westerville Public Library, have access to a virtual statewide library. Through the OhioLINK Library Catalog, books and some audiovisual materials that are not available locally can be requested from other member libraries.
How do I request an item?
Contact your library for check-out information and loan policies. Only items that are not available at your own institution may be requested in this way.
How long do requested items take to arrive? Will I be notified when items are ready for pick up?
If the items were available at a library when you requested them, they should be ready for pick up in 2-3 business days at the library you designated. You can check on the status of your requested items by viewing your personal library record/account in your library's catalog. Once you are logged in, go to the requests (holds) portion of your Library Record to follow the progress of your request:
Some OhioLINK libraries also send e-mail notices about OhioLINK requests. Contact your library for details on e-mail notices or with questions about checking your record.
Must my requested OhioLINK items be delivered to my campus?
We will deliver OhioLINK books and other library materials delivered to any participating library, including two public libraries, Cuyahoga County Public Library and Westerville Public Library. Just change the “pickup institution” to the most convenient location the next time you make a request. You will need to take your library card and a picture ID (for some people these are one and the same) with you when you pick up your requested materials. You may also return OhioLINK items to any participating library.
How can I see what OhioLINK materials I have requested or checked out?
You can see what OhioLINK items you’ve requested or checked out by viewing your personal library record/account in your local library catalog. Please contact your library if you have questions about checking your record.
How do I renew OhioLINK books online?
You can renew OhioLINK books online, up to four times, as long as another user has not requested the item. Here’s how:
Sorry, non-book items may not be renewed. If you have problems renewing OhioLINK books, please contact your library.
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 view your circulation record in your local library catalog. Please contact your library if you have questions about checking your record.
What is the loan period for items borrowed through OhioLINK?
The loan period for books is three weeks and one week for all non-book items. Books may be renewed up to four times, as long as another user has not requested the book, for a total maximum borrowing period of 15 weeks. Non-book items may not be renewed.
What are the fines for overdue OhioLINK items?
Fines for OhioLINK materials are set by a coordinating committee of librarians. Overdue OhioLINK item fines are $0.50/day. There is a $50 fine for items that are more than 30 days overdue.
Whom should I contact about problems requesting materials, fine disputes, etc.?
Please contact your local library for the best and fastest assistance. OhioLINK staff cannot access individual library accounts/records or help with fine disputes.
How do I cancel a request for an OhioLINK item?
You may cancel a request for an OhioLINK item online when viewing your circulation record in your local library catalog. If you need assistance canceling a request, please contact your library.
What if I can’t find the item I’m looking for?
The catalog does not cite specific articles within journals, or many poems, plays, and works within anthologies or collections. For journal articles, see OhioLINK Databases .
If you are looking for a book that is not available at your library or any other OhioLINK library, please check with the Interlibrary Loan department of your own library.
Depending on the cataloging policies of individual libraries, OhioLINK may not reflect all materials held by every member library.
The following may not be fully represented:
What is the Center for Research Libraries?
The Center for Research Libraries is a cooperative research library and depository located in Chicago. CRL holds specialized and rare materials that complement and supplement the collections of its member libraries, including books, journals, newspapers, archives, and microform sets.
OhioLINK libraries participate in a group membership in CRL. Cataloged CRL books are found in the OhioLINK catalog, with the location code Ctr Research Lib. These materials may be circulated through the standard OhioLINK online borrowing procedures, but may take an extra day or two to arrive.
CRL also holds many items that are not in the catalog, including state documents of all U.S. states, college catalogs, textbooks, and foreign dissertations. Loans of such noncataloged items can be arranged through the interlibrary loan staff of your library.
Authorized Use of OhioLINK:
OhioLINK is a library information system provided for the faculty, students and staff of OhioLINK institutions. The system contains menus with instructions on how to use the resources presented. Patrons are authorized to make selections and follow keystroke instructions as provided by on-screen displays.
Any attempts to leave the menus through keystrokes not suggested by the system may be interpreted as unauthorized use of the system. Unauthorized use of OhioLINK is prohibited and will be considered to be in violation of OhioLINK’s rules and policies for use of its computers and network.
April 2008