Books & Media

Available to our patrons is the “Place Hold” feature in the FOCUS MSJ Library Catalog.

1. Begin by searching the FOCUS MSJ Library Catalog for the title you want.
    
2. Then to request available items find and click the "Place Hold" button.
    
3. To complete your request, provide your last name and MSJ AllCard LIB # (printed on the front of your card) when prompted. 
   If you do not have your MSJ AllCard, you may securely look up your LIB # by logging into myMount.

Example of MSJ AllCard and LIB# location:

Example of the "Place Hold" button:

How "Place Hold" works:                    
Once the MSJ Library receives your request, the item(s) you requested will be placed on hold for you at the circulation desk in the Library Lobby. You will receive a pickup alert to your MSJ email account. When you arrive at the desk, please present your Mount ID card and the items you have on hold will be checked out to you. Note: items will be kept on the hold shelf for 10 days, after which time they will be removed if not picked up.

Returning items:
Once you are finished with your items, there are two drop off locations directly outside the Library’s interior and exterior doors. 

To check the status of your requests:
Login to View Your Library Record, or call the Circulation Desk at 513-244-4216.

Need help with your request?
Call us at (513) 244-4216 or email us at library@msj.edu.

To request items (books or other physical media) not available from the MSJ Library’s collection, follow one of the two methods for searching the OhioLINK Central Catalog.  (Note: for article requests, please use the MSJ Interlibrary Loan Form.)

Method 1--Requesting from OhioLINK:         

• Directly search the OhioLINK Central Catalog by title, author, subject, etc.
   
• When you identify the title you’re looking for (if available*), find and click the green “Request” button.
  
• You will be prompted to indicate your school (Mt. St. Joseph University).
  
• To complete your request, you will be prompted for your name and LIB # (appears on the front of your MSJ AllCard).  If you do not have your MSJ AllCard, you may securely look up your LIB # by logging into myMount. Please note: your name must follow this pattern--last name comma space first name. For example: Jones, John
  
   

(*Note:  if the title you’re seeking isn’t available from the MSJ Library or OhioLINK, then search the SearchOhio catalog and/or complete an Interlibrary Loan Request.)

Method 2--Requesting from OhioLINK:

• Begin your search in the FOCUS MSJ Library Catalog.
   
• Search by title, author, subject, or keyword. 
  (Beginning with the MSJ Library’s catalog is a good idea because you can double check if the MSJ Library already owns the item you’re seeking.)
   
• If your search of FOCUS finds no matches, click on the "Search OhioLINK" button. That will carry your search from FOCUS over to OhioLINK’s Central Catalog. The steps to follow after clicking the "Search OhioLINK" button are exactly the same as method 1 above.
  
• When you identify the title you’re looking for (if available*) in OhioLINK’s catalog, find and click the green “Request” button.
  
• After clicking OhioLINK’s green “Request” button, you will be prompted to indicate the school you’re from (Mt. St. Joseph University).
  
• To complete your request, you will be prompted for your name and LIB # (appears on the front of your MSJ AllCard).  If you do not have your MSJ AllCard, you may securely look up your LIB # by logging into myMount. Please note: your name must follow this pattern--last name comma space first name. For example: Jones, John
  

(*Note:  if the title you’re seeking isn’t available from the MSJ Library or OhioLINK, then search the SearchOhio catalog and/or complete an Interlibrary Loan Request.)

Picking up OhioLINK Items on Hold:
The MSJ Library’s membership with OhioLINK allows currently enrolled Mount St. Joseph University students, faculty and staff to find and borrow items held in university libraries throughout the state of Ohio. Items requested from the OhioLINK Central Catalog generally arrive to the MSJ campus within 5 to 7 business days. Once library staff receive your OhioLINK items by U.S. Cargo Delivery, they will place your requested items on the hold shelf at the circulation desk in the Library Lobby. You will receive a pickup alert to your MSJ email account. When you arrive at the desk, please present your Mount ID card and the items you have on hold will be checked out to you. Note: items will be kept on the hold shelf for 10 days, after which time they will be removed if not picked up.

Returning Items:
Once you are finished with your items, there is a book return  location directly outside the Library’s exterior doors. Or hand your items to return to the staff at the Circulation Desk when the Library is open.

To check the status of your OhioLINK requests:
Login to View Your Library Record, or call the Circulation Desk at 513-244-4216.

Need help with your request?
Call us at (513) 244-4216 or email us at library@msj.edu.

• Q: What is OhioLINK?
  • A: The Ohio Library and Information Network (OhioLINK) is a state-funded consortium of college and university member libraries which have agreed to lend their items to other member libraries in the OhioLINK system. Mount St. Joseph University has belonged to OhioLINK for many years. To learn more about the consortium, visit OhioLINK’s “About” page.
• Q: Who can use OhioLINK?
  • A: OhioLINK is available to current MSJ students, faculty, staff, and Sisters of Charity.
  • Visiting patrons with a valid ID card from an OhioLINK-member institution or a SearchOhio institution (including Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County) may use the MSJ Library as a pickup location for items they request through OhioLINK.
  • Residents of the State of Ohio with a valid form of ID may register to receive a Mount Library courtesy card and may borrow items from OhioLINK.
  • OhioLINK is not available to guest patrons who live outside Ohio.
• Q: What is the OhioLINK Central Catalog?
  • A: The OhioLINK Central Catalog is an online catalog website that can be used to find print books and other materials located at OhioLINK-member libraries. Patrons can search by author, title, or keyword. They can see how many copies are available for borrowing, and click on the “Request” button to borrow a copy and have it shipped to the member library of their choice.
• Q: What can I check out through OhioLINK?
  • A: Books, videos, CDs, and other kinds of materials are available to be checked out through OhioLINK.
• Q: How do I make an OhioLINK request?
  • In the OhioLINK Central Catalog, look for the green “Request” button next to the item you want to request.
  • Once you click on the request button, you will be prompted to select your home institution from a pull-down menu. Find Mount St. Joseph. Then you will enter your name and Library ID number, which is printed on the front of your Mount ID card. If you would like your item to go to a different library in the OhioLINK system (if, for example, you would prefer to pick it up at a location that is closer to your home), you may do so by selecting your desired location from the dropdown list.
• Q: When will I receive my OhioLINK item?
  • A: It usually takes 4-5 business days for OhioLINK items to arrive, if the item was listed as available when you requested it.
• Q: How will I know that my OhioLINK item is available for pickup?
  • A: A notification will be sent to your Mount St. Joseph University email address letting you know that your item is available.
• Q: Where do I pick up my OhioLINK item?
  • A: You can pick up your OhioLINK item at the Library circulation desk, which is located in the front lobby.
• Q: Can I send my OhioLINK item to another location for pickup?
  • A: You can send your OhioLINK item to any member institution in the state using the Pickup Anywhere option. When you are requesting your item online, instead of selecting MSJ Library, simply choose the institution that you would like it to be sent to instead.
• Q: How long can I keep my OhioLINK item?
  • A: MSJ students may check out OhioLINK books for 21 days, and media for 7 days.
  •  MSJ faculty, staff, and Sisters of Charity may check out OhioLINK books for 42 days, and media for 7 days.
  • Visiting patrons (OhioLINK, SearchOhio, residents of the State of Ohio) may check out OhioLINK books for 21 days, and media for 7 days.
  • See our borrowing guidelines.
• Q: Can I renew my OhioLINK item? How many times?
  • A: MSJ students may renew OhioLINK books 6 times (for an extra 21-day period per renewal), and media 3 times (for an extra 7-day period per renewal).
  • MSJ faculty, staff, and Sisters of Charity may renew OhioLINK books 6 times (for an extra 42-day period per renewal), and media 3 times (for an extra 7-day period per renewal).
  • Visiting patrons (OhioLINK, SearchOhio, residents of the State of Ohio) may renew OhioLINK books 4 times (for an extra 21-day period per renewal), and media 1 time (for an extra 7-day period per renewal).
  • See our borrowing guidelines.
• Q: How do I renew my OhioLINK item?
  • A: If you are an MSJ student, faculty, staff member, or Sister of Charity, you can renew OhioLINK items using your library account, in-person at the circulation desk, by emailing library@msj.edu, or by calling 513-244-4216.
  • If you are a visiting patron (OhioLINK, SearchOhio, residents of the State of Ohio), contact your home library if you used your home library’s ID to check out your items.
  • If you were issued an MSJ Library courtesy card, then you can renew OhioLINK items using your library account, in-person at the circulation desk, by emailing library@msj.edu, or by calling 513-244-4216.
• Q: How much will I be fined for my OhioLINK item once it is overdue?
  • A: Current MSJ students, faculty, and staff, as well as visiting patrons (OhioLINK, SearchOhio, and residents of the State of Ohio) will be fined $0.50/day until the item is returned. Overdue notices will be sent to your MSJ email account. If the item is not returned, you will receive a bill for the item. See our borrowing guidelines.
• Q: What if I lose or damage my OhioLINK item?
  • A: The replacement cost for a lost or damaged OhioLINK item is $125, per system-wide OhioLINK policy. See our borrowing guidelines. 
• Q: Whom should I contact if I have questions about OhioLINK?
  • A: If you have OhioLINK-related questions, please contact our Head of Access Services, Josh Zeller, at joshua.zeller@msj.edu or 513-244-4882.
• What is SearchOhio?
  • A: SearchOhio is a consortium of Ohio public libraries that can be utilized by OhioLINK patrons, and residents of the State of Ohio. You can directly search the SearchOhio catalog at its website, or you can access it within the OhioLINK Central Catalog.
  • If an item cannot be found within the OhioLINK system (particularly items that are of a non-academic nature, such as popular novels), SearchOhio is an excellent resource.