Research Help

• Use the Mount Library’s catalog, FOCUS, to locate books, films, music and other information sources.
• You may search for the author’s name, for the exact title or for keywords in the title or subject.
• Search results can be limited by material type, by year of publication or other criteria.
• Schedule an appointment with a Librarian to learn more about using the Mount Library’s catalog.  

• Use the OhioLINK Catalog to locate books, films, music and other information sources in college and university libraries throughout Ohio.
• Use the SearchOhio Catalog to locate books, films, music and other information sources in public libraries throughout Ohio.
• You may search for the author’s name, for the exact title or for keywords in the title or subject.
• Search results can be limited by material type, by year of publication or other criteria.
• You may request that an item be sent to you at the Mount Library.
• Schedule an appointment with a Librarian to learn more about using the OhioLINK Catalog.

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.

• Use the Mount Library’s catalog, FOCUS, to locate ebooks in the Mount Library’s collection.
• Access ebooks in library databases such as EBSCO EBook Collection the OhioLINK EBook Center, and others. More information about access ebooks in library databases and the world wide web can be found on the Mount Library’s ebook information page.
• You may search by keyword or browse by topic or category.
• Search results can be limited by material type, by year of publication or other criteria.
• You may browse e-books online or check them out.

• Schedule an appointment with a Librarian to learn more about using e-book collections.

Libraries throughout the U.S. and the World

• Use WorldCat to locate books, films, music and other information sources in libraries around the world.
• You may search for the author’s name, for the exact title or for keywords in the title or subject.
• Search results can be limited by material type, by year of publication or other criteria.  
• You may request that an item be sent to you at the Mount Library.
• Schedule an appointment with a Librarian to learn more about using WorldCat.