Borrow and Request Materials

Materials may be renewed or held by logging in to My Library Account. Loan periods vary based on the type of materials:

Books
Faculty, staff, and graduate students: 17 week check-out period
Undergraduate students: 6 week check-out period

Reserves
Two-hour checkout period (includes reserve books, models, and bones)

Journals

Journals at the HSL Ackerman Remote Storage facility can be requested through the Library Catalog for pickup at campus library locations or delivery to campus offices.

Faculty, staff, and graduate students: 17 week check-out period
Undergraduate students: 6 week check-out period

For additional information on loan periods including materials borrowed from other OSU and OhioLINK libraries see Loan Periods.

Authorization Request Form

Download and complete the Authorization Request Form and return it to the library to authorize another person to use your library account.

• The Authorization Request Form allows a person to permit another individual to utilize The Ohio State University Libraries services in their name.
• Once this form has been completed and returned to the Health Sciences Library Public Services Desk, the person listed on the form will have permission to check out materials at any OSU Library. They will also be able to pick up interlibrary loan items requested through the Health Sciences Library Document Delivery by the authorizing person.
• It is recommended that no more than four people be authorized at a time and that they be authorized on a semester-by-semester basis.
• The authorizing person is responsible for all materials borrowed on his/her patron record.
• You may want to encourage the authorized person to obtain a receipt when returning books.

Fines

Fines are charged for overdue items.

• Overdue Reserve items (books, models, etc.) accrue fines at the rate of $2.00 for the first hour and $5.00 for each additional hour, per item.
• Items that are long overdue, and not renewed, are assumed lost. A block will be placed on your record and a fine added. The fines for regular circulating items are as follows:
  • $140 billed per book
  • $170 billed per AV

Please see Fines and Fees for more information, including a complete list of fines.

• All Health Sciences Library fines must be paid to accounts receivable in Workday. Additional information about how to pay fines is available here.

Other Circulation Information

Please note that pick-up notices for library materials are sent via email only.

Materials that are not available at OSU Libraries may be requested from OhioLINK and/or SearchOhio. If there are no available copies of the book you need, you can place a request via Interlibrary Services.

Courtesy Cards

Note: courtesy cards are not being issued at this time because access to all Ohio State Libraries is limited due to social distancing guidelines.

A courtesy card extends library borrowing privileges to individuals not affiliated with OSU. Courtesy cards are issued at the Circulation Desks of the Health Sciences Library, Thompson Library, and Moritz Law Library A courtesy card allows one to borrow any regularly circulated items, up to five items from OhioLINK, but not access to all library services.

Healthcare professionals from Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Union, Fairfield, Pickaway, and Madison counties may be eligible for courtesy borrowing privileges. You must present a valid work ID or board certification and a picture ID, e.g., a driver's license. For additional eligibility information and restrictions please see Courtesy Card Information.