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Services

Hours

Spring Semester
Monday-Thursday: 7:30am-10pm
Friday: 7:30am-5pm
Saturday: 10am-5pm
Sunday: CLOSED
(See also full Library Hours Calendar.)

Get Research Help

All Research Help Options

Contact Us

Circulation & Research:
(513) 244-4216

Email: library@msj.edu

Location:
Archbishop Alter Library
Mount St. Joseph University
5701 Delhi Road
Cincinnati, OH 45233

Website URL:  https://library.msj.edu

Social Media:   Library instagram accountLibrary goodreads account @MSJLibrary on Twitter

MSJ Students

Currently enrolled MSJ students who have a valid Mount St. Joseph University ID may borrow books, videos, CDs, and other items. Reference books and periodicals (journals, magazines, and newspapers) cannot be borrowed.

Requesting:

Search FOCUS to find out which print books, films, journals and other digital materials are available. Follow the on-screen instructions for searching.

Items are held for pick-up at the Mount Library circulation desk.

Books are held for 10 days, media for 5 days.

Borrowing:

Books            Loan Period             Renewals     Late fee                     Recall

                        21 days                   4 times           50¢ day                      50¢ day

Media             Loan Period             Renewals     Late fee                     Recall           

                        7 days                     1 time             50¢ day                      50¢ day

A reminder notice will be sent to your MSJ email account 2 days before the due date.

In the event an item becomes overdue, notices will be sent to your MSJ email account. If the item is not returned, you will receive a bill for an item.

Renewing:

Renewals can be requested:

If a renewal request is denied the item must be returned immediately.

Recall:

Items required for the Reserve Collection are subject to recall and must be returned immediately.

Returning:

During operating hours, patrons may return items directly to the Circulation Desk or to the book drop in the Library Lobby. Items may also be returned to our outside book drop at any time.

Replacement:

Replacement fee of $125.00 is charged for lost or damaged items.

Questions? Contact the Library:

Items on reserve are books, videos, and other materials set aside for a specific course or other use by library staff at the request of the course's instructor.  Currently enrolled MSJ students may borrow reserve items with a valid ID card.

Requesting:

Search FOCUS using Course Reserves option to find items on reserve. Follow the on-screen instruction to search by the instructor’s name or by course number. 

All reserve items are shelved at the Mount Library circulation desk. Request items at the desk.

Borrowing:

Reserves       Loan Period             Renewals     Late fee                     Recall

                        3-hour                         None              50¢ hour                    50¢ hour

                        1-day                          None              $1.00 day                   $1.00 day

                        3-day                          None              $1.00 day                   $1.00 day

                        7-day                          None              $1.00 day                   $1.00 day

In the event a reserve item becomes overdue, notices will be sent to your MSJ email account. If the item is not returned, you will receive a bill for the item.

Renewing:

Reserve items may not be renewed.

Recall:

Reserve items required by the instructor are subject to recall and must be returned immediately.

Returning:

  • Items with a 3-hour loan period may not be taken from the Library.
  • Items with a 3-hour loan period are due at the time indicated.
  • Items with 1-, 3-, or 7-day loan period are due by closing on the date due.

Return items:

Normally, patrons may return items to the Circulation Desk inside the MSJ Library. However, during the pandemic, look directly outside our doors for our 2 external drop off locations for safe, contact free return of borrowed items.

Replacement:

Replacement fee of $125.00 is charged for lost or damaged items.

Questions? Contact the Library:

Currently enrolled MSJ students may borrow items from OhioLINK, a statewide consortium of college and university libraries.

Requesting:

Search the OhioLINK Catalog to locate and request books and videos not owned by the Mount Library. See also: additional instructions on requesting OhioLINK items.

You will receive an e-mail notification when your requested items have arrived in the MSJ Library and are ready for pickup. OhioLINK items are usually available within 3 to 5 days.

Items are held for pick-up at the Mount Library circulation desk.

Books are held for 10 days, media for 5 days.

Borrowing:

Books            Loan Period             Renewals     Late fee                     Recall

                        21 days                      6 times           50¢ day                      50¢ day

Media             Loan Period             Renewals     Late fee                     Recall           

                        7 days                        3 times           50¢ day                      50¢ day

In the event an item becomes overdue, notices will be sent to your MSJ email account. If the item is not returned, you will receive a bill for an item.

Renewing:

Renewals can be requested:

Renewals are at the discretion of the loaning library. If a renewal request is denied the item must be returned immediately.

Returning:

During operating hours, patrons may return items directly to the Circulation Desk or to the book drop in the Library Lobby. Items may also be returned to our outside book drop at any time.

Replacement:

Replacement fee of $125.00 is charged for lost or damaged items.

Questions? Contact the Library:

Currently enrolled MSJ students may borrow items from SearchOhio with a valid ID card. SearchOhio is a statewide consortium of public libraries.

Requesting:

First search the OhioLINK Catalog to locate items not owned by the Mount Library. If no copy is available via OhioLINK, then search the SearchOhio Catalog to locate and request items.

You will receive an e-mail notification when requested items have arrived in the MSJ Library and are ready for pickup. SearchOhio items are usually available within 3 to 5 days.

Items are held for pick-up at the Mount Library circulation desk.

Books are held for 10 days, media for 5 days.

Borrowing:

Books            Loan Period             Renewals     Late fee                     Recall

                        21 days                      3 times           50¢ day                      50¢ day

Media             Loan Period             Renewals     Late fee                     Recall           

                        21 days                      3 times           50¢ day                      50¢ day

In the event an item becomes overdue, notices will be sent to your MSJ email account. If the item is not returned, you will receive a bill for an item.

Renewing:

Renewals can be requested:

Renewals are at the discretion of the loaning library. If a renewal request is denied the item must be returned immediately

Recall:

Items recalled by the lending library must be returned immediately.

Returning:

During operating hours, patrons may return items directly to the Circulation Desk or to the book drop in the Library Lobby. Items may also be returned to our outside book drop at any time.

Replacement:

Replacement fee of $125.00 is charged for lost or damaged items.

Questions? Contact the Library:

InterLibrary Loan (ILL) is a service that obtains books, articles, and other materials not available at the Mount St. Joseph University Library or through OhioLINK or SearchOhio. Currently enrolled MSJ students with a valid ID card may request to borrow items through the ILL service.

Requesting Books & Media:

Complete an online request form to borrow items through interlibrary loan.

You will receive an e-mail notification when your requested item has arrived and is available for pickup.

Interlibrary Loan books and media are usually available within 7 to 10 business days.

Items are held for pick-up at the Mount Library circulation desk.

Books are held for 10 days, media for 5 days.

Borrowing:

  • Loan periods are solely determined by the lending library. Generally speaking, items borrowed through the ILL service have a loan period of 30 days.
  • A late fee of $1.00 per day is charged to all patrons for each item returned late.
  • In the event an item becomes overdue, notices will be sent to your MSJ email account. If the item is not returned, you will receive a bill for an item.

Renewing Books & Media:

Request for a renewal must be made before the due date. Renewals are granted at the discretion of the loaning library.

Renewals can be requested:

If a renewal request is denied the item must be returned immediately.

Recall:

Items recalled by the lending library must be returned immediately.

Returning Books & Media:

During operating hours, patrons may return items directly to the Circulation Desk or to the book drop in the Library Lobby. Items may also be returned to our outside book drop at any time.

Replacement:

If an item borrowed via ILL is lost or damaged, the lending library will charge a replacement fee at its discretion.

Questions? Contact the Library:

MSJ Faculty, Staff, & Sisters of Charity

MSJ faculty and staff members who have a valid Mount St. Joseph University ID may borrow books, videos, CDs, and other items. Sisters of Charity may request a Mount Library courtesy card and borrow items.  Reference books and periodicals (journals, magazines, and newspapers) cannot be borrowed.

Requesting:

Search FOCUS to find out which print books, films, journals and other digital materials are available. Follow the on-screen instructions for searching.

Items are held for pick-up at the Mount Library circulation desk.

Books are held for 10 days, media for 5 days.

Borrowing:

Books            Loan Period             Renew           Late fee                     Recall

                        42 days                     6 times           None                          None

Media             Loan Period             Renew           Late fee                     Recall           

                        14 days                     2 times           None                          None

A reminder notice will be sent to your MSJ email account 2 days before the due date.

In the event an item becomes overdue, notices will be sent to your MSJ email account. If the item is not returned, you will receive a bill for an item.

Renewing:

Renewals can be requested:

If a renewal request is denied the item must be returned immediately.

Recall:

Items required for the Reserve Collection are subject to recall and must be returned immediately.

Returning:

During operating hours, patrons may return items directly to the Circulation Desk or to the book drop in the Library Lobby. Items may also be returned to our outside book drop at any time.

Replacement:

Replacement fee of $125.00 is charged for lost or damaged items.

Questions? Contact the Library:

Items on reserve include books, videos, and other materials set aside for a specific course or other use by library staff at the request of the course's instructor

MSJ faculty, including Sisters of Charity who are faculty members or instructors, may borrow any reserve items with a valid ID card.

Staff and Sisters of Charity who are students may borrow reserve items for their classes with a valid ID card.

Requesting:
Search FOCUS using Course Reserves option to find items on reserve. Follow the on-screen instruction to search by the instructor’s name or by course number.

All reserve items are shelved at the Mount Library circulation desk. Request items at the desk.

Borrowing:

  • Faculty may borrow items on reserve for their own class. A faculty member may request to borrow the item for a longer time than the assigned reserve checkout period.
  • Faculty may borrow Items on reserve for another faculty member’s class at the discretion of the instructor.
  • Staff and Sisters of Charity may borrow reserve items under the same guidelines as students.
  • In the event a reserve item becomes overdue, notices will be sent to your MSJ email account. If the item is not returned, you will receive a bill for the item.

Renewing:
Reserve items may not be renewed.

Recall:
Reserve items required by the instructor are subject to recall and must be returned immediately.

Returning:
Items with a 3-hour loan period may not be taken from the Library.

Items with a 3-hour loan period are due at the time indicated.

Items with 1-, 3-, or 7-day loan period are due by closing on the date due.

Return items:

  • in the book drop outside the Mount Library building.
  • at the Mount Library circulation desk.

Replacement:
Replacement fee of $125.00 is charged for lost or damaged items.

Questions?
Contact the Library:

MSJ faculty and staff may borrow items from OhioLINK, a statewide consortium of college and university libraries.

Requesting:
Search the OhioLINK Catalog to locate and request books and videos not owned by the Mount Library. For additional instructions on requesting OhioLINK items, click here.

You will receive an e-mail notification when your requested items have arrived in the MSJ Library and are ready for pickup. OhioLINK items are usually available within 3 to 5 days.

Items are held for pick-up at the Mount Library circulation desk.

Books are held for 10 days, media for 5 days.

Borrowing:

Books            Loan Period             Renew           Late fee                     Recall

                        42 days                     6 times           50¢ day                     50¢ day

Media             Loan Period             Renew           Late fee                     Recall           

                          7 days                      3 times           50¢ day                     50¢ day

In the event an item becomes overdue, notices will be sent to your MSJ email account. If the item is not returned, you will receive a bill for an item.

Renewing:
Renewals can be requested:

Renewals are at the discretion of the loaning library. If a renewal request is denied the item must be returned immediately

Returning:

During operating hours, patrons may return items directly to the Circulation Desk or to the book drop in the Library Lobby. Items may also be returned to our outside book drop at any time.

Replacement:
Replacement fee of $125.00 is charged for lost or damaged items.

Questions?
Contact the Library:

MSJ faculty and staff  and Sisters of Charity may borrow items from SearchOhio with a valid ID card. SearchOhio is a statewide consortium of public libraries.

Requesting:
First search the OhioLINK Catalog to locate items not owned by the Mount Library. If no copy is available via OhioLINK, then search the SearchOhio Catalog to locate and request items.

You will receive an e-mail notification when requested items have arrived in the MSJ Library and are ready for pickup. SearchOhio items are usually available within 3 to 5 days.

Items are held for pick-up at the Mount Library circulation desk.

Books are held for 10 days, media for 5 days.

Borrowing:

Books            Loan Period             Renewals     Late fee                     Recall

                        21 days                      3 times           50¢ day                      50¢ day

Media             Loan Period             Renewals     Late fee                     Recall           

                        21 days                      3 times           50¢ day                      50¢ day

In the event an item becomes overdue, notices will be sent to your MSJ email account. If the item is not returned, you will receive a bill for an item.

Renewing:

Renewals can be requested:

Renewals are at the discretion of the loaning library. If a renewal request is denied the item must be returned immediately

Recall:

Items recalled by the lending library must be returned immediately.

Returning:
During operating hours, patrons may return items directly to the Circulation Desk or to the book drop in the Library Lobby. Items may also be returned to our outside book drop at any time.

Replacement:
Replacement fee of $125.00 is charged for lost or damaged items.

Questions?
Contact the Library:

InterLibrary Loan (ILL) is a service that obtains books, articles, and other materials not available at the Mount St. Joseph University Library or through OhioLINK or SearchOhio.

MSJ faculty and staff & Sisters of Charity with a valid ID card may request to borrow items through the interlibrary loan service.

Requesting Books & Media:
Complete an online request form to borrow items through interlibrary loan.

You will receive an e-mail notification when your requested item has arrived and is available for pickup.

Interlibrary Loan books and media are usually available within 7 to 10 business days.

Items are held for pick-up at the Mount Library circulation desk.

Books are held for 10 days, media for 5 days.

Borrowing:

  • Loan periods are solely determined by the lending library. Generally speaking, items borrowed through the ILL service have a loan period of 30 days.
  • A late fee of $1.00 per day is charged to all patrons for each item returned late.
  • In the event an item becomes overdue, notices will be sent to your MSJ email account. If the item is not returned, you will receive a bill for an item.

Renewing Books & Media:
Request for a renewal must be made before the due date. Renewals are granted at the discretion of the loaning library.

Renewals can be requested:

If a renewal request is denied the item must be returned immediately.

Recall:
Items recalled by the lending library must be returned immediately.

Returning Books & Media:

During operating hours, patrons may return items directly to the Circulation Desk or to the book drop in the Library Lobby. Items may also be returned to our outside book drop at any time.

Replacement:
If an item borrowed via ILL is lost or damaged, the lending library will charge a replacement fee at its discretion.

Questions?
Contact the Library:

Visiting Patrons: OhioLINK, SearchOhio, & Residents of Ohio

OhioLINK member-institution faculty, staff, and students with valid OhioLINK ID and Ohio public library patrons with valid Ohio public library ID may use their library cards to check out items. Residents of the State of Ohio with valid state-issued ID may request a Mount Library courtesy card and borrow items from the MSJ Library.

If you have a library account at an OhioLINK or SearchOhio Library, MSJ items will be checked out to your library account at your home institution.

Reference books and periodicals (journals, magazines, and newspapers) cannot be borrowed.

Requesting:
Search FOCUS to find out which print books, films, journals and other digital materials are available. Follow the on-screen instructions for searching.

Items are held for pick-up at the Mount Library circulation desk.

Books are held for 10 days, media for 5 days.

Renewing:
Renewals can be requested:

  • If you used your home library's ID card to check out Mount Library items, then contact your home library to renew items.
  • If you have a Mount Library courtesy card, then you may phone the library for assistance (513-244-4216), renew your books by logging into your library account, email the library for assistance (library@msj.edu), or request assistance in person at the circulation desk.

If a renewal request is denied the item must be returned immediately.

Borrowing:

Books            Loan Period             Renewals     Late fee                     Recall

                        21 days                      4 times           50¢ day                   50¢ day

Media             Loan Period             Renewals     Late fee                     Recall           

                        7 days                        1 time             50¢ day                   50¢ day

In the event an item becomes overdue, you will be charged overdue fines. If the item is not returned, you will receive a bill for an item.

Recall:
Items required for the Reserve Collection are subject to recall and must be returned immediately.

Returning:

During operating hours, patrons may return items directly to the Circulation Desk or to the book drop in the Library Lobby. Items may also be returned to our outside book drop at any time. (If you are an OhioLINK or SearchOhio patron, you may also return borrowed items at your home library.)

Replacement:
Replacement fee of $125.00 is charged for lost or damaged items.

Questions?
Contact the Library:

Items on designated as “reserve” in the MSJ Library catalog are books, videos, and other materials set aside for Mount. St. Joseph University courses at the request of the course's instructor.

Because reserve items are needed for instructional purposes, guest patrons of the MSJ Library are prohibited from borrowing reserve materials.

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.

Requesting:
Search the OhioLINK Catalog to locate and request books and videos not owned by the Mount Library. For additional instructions on requesting OhioLINK items, click here.

You will receive an e-mail notification when your requested items have arrived in the MSJ Library and are ready for pickup. OhioLINK items are usually available within 3 to 5 days.

Items are held for pick-up at the Mount Library circulation desk.

Books are held for 10 days, media for 5 days.

Borrowing:

Books            Loan Period             Renewals     Late fee                     Recall

                        21 days                      6 times           50¢ day                   50¢ day

Media             Loan Period             Renewals     Late fee                     Recall           

                        7 days                        3 times           50¢ day                   50¢ day

In the event an item becomes overdue, you will be charged overdue fines. If the item is not returned, you will receive a bill for the item.

Renewing:
Renewals can be requested:

  • Through your library account at your home institution.
  • By phone: (513) 244-4216.
  • In-person at the Mount Library circulation desk.
  • Via email: library@msj.edu.

Renewals are at the discretion of the loaning library. If a renewal request is denied the item must be returned immediately

Returning:
Return items:

  • in the book drop outside the Mount Library building.
  • at the Mount Library circulation desk.

Replacement:
Replacement fee of $125.00 is charged for lost or damaged items.

Questions?
Contact the Library:

  • By phone: (513) 244-4216
  • In-person at the Mount Library circulation desk
  • Via email: library@msj.edu

SearchOhio is a service that allows users to borrow books and other items from Ohio public libraries that participate in the SearchOhio service.

If you are a resident of Ohio and you wish to use the SearchOhio service, please contact your local public library for assistance. Learn more about SearchOhio.

InterLibrary Loan (ILL) is a service that obtains books, articles, and other materials not available at the Mount St. Joseph University Library or through OhioLINK or SearchOhio.

ILL service is not available to visiting patrons of the MSJ Library. If you need interlibrary loan assistance, please contact your home library (if you are an OhioLINK or SearchOhio Member) or your nearest public library.

All Other Library Guests

Anyone who is not a current student or employee of Mount St. Joseph University nor is a member of an OhioLINK or SearchOhio Library must be able to present a state ID or driver’s license to borrow materials from the MSJ Library. Visitors will be issued a Mount Library ID number and card and will be allowed to borrow a limited number of items from the library.

Reference books and periodicals (journals, magazines, and newspapers) cannot be borrowed.

Items designated as “Course Reserves” in the MSJ Library Catalog cannot be borrowed by guests.

Requesting:
Search FOCUS to find out which print books, films, journals and other digital materials are available. Follow the on-screen instructions for searching.

Items are held for pick-up at the Mount Library circulation desk.

Books are held for 10 days, media for 5 days.

Borrowing:

Books            Loan Period             Renewals     Late fee                     Recall

                        21 days                     2 times           50¢ day                     50¢ day

Media             Loan Period             Renewals     Late fee                     Recall           

                        7 days                        None              50¢ day                     50¢ day

In the event an item becomes overdue, a notice will be sent to your email and you will be charged overdue fines. If the item is not returned, you will receive a bill for the item.

Renewing:
Renewals can be requested:

If a renewal request is denied the item must be returned immediately.

Recall:
Items required by MSJ faculty and students are subject to recall and must be returned immediately.

Returning:

During operating hours, patrons may return items directly to the Circulation Desk or to the book drop in the Library Lobby. Items may also be returned to our outside book drop at any time.

Replacement:
Replacement fee of $125.00 is charged for lost or damaged items.

Questions?
Contact the Library:

OhioLINK, SearchOhio, and InterLibrary Loan (ILL) are services that obtain books, articles, and other materials not available at the Mount St. Joseph University Library.

These services are not available to guest patrons of the MSJ Library. If you need interlibrary loan assistance, please contact your nearest public library.