WU Libraries Help FAQ: Answers!

Help FAQ: Answers!

Checking Out a Book

I'm a WU student. What do I have to do to check out books?

Washington University students, faculty, staff, and courtesy borrowers who have current identification cards may borrow books. A current Washington University I.D. or courtesy card is required for all borrowing transactions. Circulation policies vary depending on the type and location of materials. For an overview of procedures in each library, see the Olin Library Circulation Unit or the Circulation section of each Departmental and School Library page.

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I'm not a student at WU. Can I still use the library? Can I check out books?

You are welcome to come to any campus library and use most of the resources while you are here. Use of the Arc Technology Center is restricted to current faculty, students, and staff; there are also a few commercial databases which you will not be allowed to use, due to licensing restrictions. For information on checking out books, please see this section, below.

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I'm an alumnus/alumna of Washington University; can I check out books?

Not directly. You may join the Century Club, for $100 (or more) for one year. One of the privileges of this membership is the right to check out books from the WU Libraries. It does not, however, give you access to most databases and electronic journals in the Libraries website from off-campus. You are welcome to use most of the restricted resources while you are in any of the Libraries on the WU campuses. To find out more about joining the Century Club, please see Washington University Giving Clubs.

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What borrowing privileges are available for people outside Washington University?

If you are a student at St. Louis University or University of Missouri-St. Louis, or another member of the MOBIUS consortium, you can check out books using your university ID. However, we recommend you request the item via the MOBIUS catalog and have it delivered to your 'home' library rather than coming to the WU Libraries in person to check out books.

If you are a student at a college or university in the St. Louis area, you may be able check out books from the Washington University Libraries with an InfoPass from your school's library, if it participates in the InfoPass program. Ask at your school library for a pass.

If you are a faculty member at another college or university, you may request an HEC card from your institution's library, which allows checkout privileges at many local colleges and universities.

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The item I'm looking for is not where it's supposed to be. What should I do?

Unfortunately, books and other library materials occasionally go missing or turn up in the wrong place. This can happen for a number of reasons, not all of them preventable. When an item is missing, you can report it with one quick step.

Request it: If the item you want is not checked out, but you can't find it in the stacks, request a search for the item by clicking the "Request" button in the online catalog record.

This will notify the Circulation staff, who will conduct a search for the item within 24 hours. If the book or item is not found, but it is available through the MOBIUS catalog, the Circulation staff will request a copy for you through MOBIUS and notify you when it arrives.

If the item you want is listed as MISSING, LOST, or SEARCHING in the catalog, you may also order it yourself through MOBIUS or Interlibrary Loan.

Of course, you can also ask someone at the Help Desk in Olin Library (Level 1) for help in locating the item. For other libraries on campus, ask at the main checkout desk for assistance and someone will help you.

For an explanation of all status messages in the library catalog, see this list.

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I received a notice that an item I checked out is now overdue. What do I do?

If you still have the item in your possession, return it! You will be charged a fine if you don't. Here is Olin Library's policy for overdues. If the item is overdue at another campus library, check with the circulation desk at that library. Overdue materials cannot be renewed online.

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Which items can I renew?

This differs somewhat from library to library; ask at the circulation desk of whichever library the items are checked out from. For Olin Library, books that are not yet overdue, have not been requested by another borrower, or reached the renewal limit may be renewed using the My Catalog function of the catalog. You may also renew by regular mail or by bringing materials to the Check-out Desk, Level 1. Telephone renewals are not accepted. If the books have reached their renewal limit, they must be brought to the Check-out Desk to be checked in.

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Can I renew my items over the phone, or on-line?

See answer just above!

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Where/how do I find an item that's on reserve?

For electronic/online reserves, use ERes. For books and other materials in print, use the Course Reserves by Course Name or Course Reserves by Instructor functions in the Library Catalog. You might also want to take a look at the homepage for Reserve unit in Olin Library.

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Can I have books delivered from one library to another, so I can pick them up?

Yes, you may. To request the delivery of item(s) found in the Library Catalog from one Danforth campus library to another, you must first search the catalog and find the record for the desired item. Then click on the 'Request' button at the top or bottom of the screen. On the next screen, fill in your name, your WU ID number, and PIN. (If you do not have a PIN, go to My Catalog to choose one.) After you've chosen a library pickup location, click on the button that says 'Submit Above Information.' The item will be delivered from the library that has that item to the library you wish to pick it up from, in usually about one day. Go to the circulation desk of that library to pick it up.

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How do I request a hold or recall, or ask a reference question?

Choose the How do I ... link in the left-hand column of any page in the website.

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Skip navigation Library Home Search Resources Catalog Articles Databases Research Help Check This Out How Do I ... Services Libraries Comments WUSTL		Help FAQ: Answers! Checking Out a Book I'm a WU student. What do I have to do to check out books? Washington University students, faculty, staff, and courtesy borrowers who have current identification cards may borrow books. A current Washington University I.D. or courtesy card is required for all borrowing transactions. Circulation policies vary depending on the type and location of materials. For an overview of procedures in each library, see the Olin Library Circulation Unit or the Circulation section of each Departmental and School Library page. (Return to Help) I'm not a student at WU. Can I still use the library? Can I check out books? You are welcome to come to any campus library and use most of the resources while you are here. Use of the Arc Technology Center is restricted to current faculty, students, and staff; there are also a few commercial databases which you will not be allowed to use, due to licensing restrictions. For information on checking out books, please see this section, below. (Return to Help) I'm an alumnus/alumna of Washington University; can I check out books? Not directly. You may join the Century Club, for $100 (or more) for one year. One of the privileges of this membership is the right to check out books from the WU Libraries. It does not, however, give you access to most databases and electronic journals in the Libraries website from off-campus. You are welcome to use most of the restricted resources while you are in any of the Libraries on the WU campuses. To find out more about joining the Century Club, please see Washington University Giving Clubs. (Return to Help) What borrowing privileges are available for people outside Washington University? If you are a student at St. Louis University or University of Missouri-St. Louis, or another member of the MOBIUS consortium, you can check out books using your university ID. However, we recommend you request the item via the MOBIUS catalog and have it delivered to your 'home' library rather than coming to the WU Libraries in person to check out books. If you are a student at a college or university in the St. Louis area, you may be able check out books from the Washington University Libraries with an InfoPass from your school's library, if it participates in the InfoPass program. Ask at your school library for a pass. If you are a faculty member at another college or university, you may request an HEC card from your institution's library, which allows checkout privileges at many local colleges and universities. (Return to Help) The item I'm looking for is not where it's supposed to be. What should I do? Unfortunately, books and other library materials occasionally go missing or turn up in the wrong place. This can happen for a number of reasons, not all of them preventable. When an item is missing, you can report it with one quick step. Request it: If the item you want is not checked out, but you can't find it in the stacks, request a search for the item by clicking the "Request" button in the online catalog record. This will notify the Circulation staff, who will conduct a search for the item within 24 hours. If the book or item is not found, but it is available through the MOBIUS catalog, the Circulation staff will request a copy for you through MOBIUS and notify you when it arrives. If the item you want is listed as MISSING, LOST, or SEARCHING in the catalog, you may also order it yourself through MOBIUS or Interlibrary Loan. Of course, you can also ask someone at the Help Desk in Olin Library (Level 1) for help in locating the item. For other libraries on campus, ask at the main checkout desk for assistance and someone will help you. For an explanation of all status messages in the library catalog, see this list. (Return to Help) I received a notice that an item I checked out is now overdue. What do I do? If you still have the item in your possession, return it! You will be charged a fine if you don't. Here is Olin Library's policy for overdues. If the item is overdue at another campus library, check with the circulation desk at that library. Overdue materials cannot be renewed online. (Return to Help) Which items can I renew? This differs somewhat from library to library; ask at the circulation desk of whichever library the items are checked out from. For Olin Library, books that are not yet overdue, have not been requested by another borrower, or reached the renewal limit may be renewed using the My Catalog function of the catalog. You may also renew by regular mail or by bringing materials to the Check-out Desk, Level 1. Telephone renewals are not accepted. If the books have reached their renewal limit, they must be brought to the Check-out Desk to be checked in. (Return to Help) Can I renew my items over the phone, or on-line? See answer just above! (Return to Help) Where/how do I find an item that's on reserve? For electronic/online reserves, use ERes. For books and other materials in print, use the Course Reserves by Course Name or Course Reserves by Instructor functions in the Library Catalog. You might also want to take a look at the homepage for Reserve unit in Olin Library. (Return to Help) Can I have books delivered from one library to another, so I can pick them up? Yes, you may. To request the delivery of item(s) found in the Library Catalog from one Danforth campus library to another, you must first search the catalog and find the record for the desired item. Then click on the 'Request' button at the top or bottom of the screen. On the next screen, fill in your name, your WU ID number, and PIN. (If you do not have a PIN, go to My Catalog to choose one.) After you've chosen a library pickup location, click on the button that says 'Submit Above Information.' The item will be delivered from the library that has that item to the library you wish to pick it up from, in usually about one day. Go to the circulation desk of that library to pick it up. (Return to Help) How do I request a hold or recall, or ask a reference question? Choose the How do I ... link in the left-hand column of any page in the website. (Return to Help)

last update: Thursday, September 11, 2008 Page maintained by: library.webmaster@wumail.wustl.edu © 1993-2008 CDT Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA