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Library Announcements
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Frequently Asked Questions
Books / Circulation | Reserve Materials
OhioLINK Borrowing / Interlibrary Loan
Articles / Databases | Miscellaneous / Help
Q. I'm not a YSU student. Am I permitted to use the library?
A. Maag Library is open to the public, with the exception of the computer lab which is restricted to current YSU students, faculty and staff. (See Policies Governing Uses of Computing Facilities, for more information about the computer lab). We ask that you comply with library and university policies and regulations.
You must be registered to borrow materials from the circulating collection. The following categories of individuals may borrow materials from Maag Library:
- Current YSU students, faculty, and staff
- Current members of Friends of Maag Library
- Current members of the YSU Alumni Association
- Current students, faculty and staff of participating OhioLINK institutions
- See Services for additional information.
Q. Can I use the library's online resources from off campus?
A. Anyone may search our library catalog, MaagNET, or the OhioLINK Central Catalog from anywhere.
Access to some services is restricted due to licensing agreements to current students, faculty and staff of OhioLINK Institutions.
Examples of restricted services:
- Services provided through the catalogs (such as requesting books or connecting to electronically-subscribed journals) or Remote access to subscription databases. See Off Campus Access for additional information.
Q. What are the library's hours?
A. Current hours for the library are listed on the Hours page.
Q. How late is the computer lab open?
A. The computer lab closes 15 minutes before the library building closes. For exact hours, see the listing for computer lab hours on the Hours page.
Q. Where do I look to find out if the library has the books I need?
A. All materials owned by Youngstown State University's Maag Library may be located using our online catalog, MaagNET.
Q. Does the library have textbooks for YSU classes?
A. Most academic libraries such as Youngstown State University's Maag Library do not generally buy textbooks. Occasionally, older editions of some textbooks are donated to the library. Do a search (by the title of the book, by the author's name, or by author/title) in the online catalog, MaagNET, to find out if we own the book. If the book is not listed, you may also try searching in the OhioLINK Central Catalog to see if another OhioLINK institution owns a copy of the book.
OhioLINK Borrowing / Interlibrary Loan
Q. Is it possible to get a copy of a book that the library does not own?
A. If the book you need is checked out, missing, or not owned by YSU, you may search the OhioLINK Central Catalog, [the combined catalogs of the OhioLINK consortium colleges and universities]. You may request books online through the Central Catalog as long as they are available at an OhioLINK institution. (Please note that current textbooks are not often available). While viewing the record for an individual book, click on Request this item and follow the directions. You will be prompted to enter the name of your institution (Youngstown State University) and then your name, your YSU IDand PIN number (password).
However, if the the book is not available at Maag Library nor at OhioLINK institutions, fill out and submit an Interlibrary Loan online form. The Interlibrary Loan staff will attempt to locate a copy of the book for you. When the Interlibrary Loan material arrives, you will be notified by telephone and/or email.
Q. How do I find out if my OhioLINK book is in?
A. You must check Your Library Account (at http://jupiter.ysu.edu/patroninfo) by submitting your name, YSU ID and password. Click on the link that says: Request (hold) oustanding. You should see the information for the book you have requested in the bottom frame. Look at the status column.
- If the status says Requested, the other library is still working on your request.
- If the status says In Transit, the book is on its way.
- If the status says OhioLink Rec'd, the book is ready to pick up at the Circulation Desk in Maag Library.
- If your request disappears, the book is not available at this time from any OhioLINK institution. You will receive written confirmation of this after a few days. You may wish to retry your request at a later date.
Q. How long can I keep a book I have checked out?
A. That depends on where the book is from.
For books owned by Maag Library:
The loan periods vary according to the category of the borrower (undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, staff and courtesy borrowers). Consult Loan Period table for more information.
For books from other OhioLINK institutions:
- The checkout period is three weeks (21 days). See Loan Period table for more information.
- For books received (through Interlibrary Loan) from other libraries not in OhioLINK:
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The time limit varies by institution, although two weeks is typical. You must return items by the due date stamped on the band.
Q. Can I renew the books I have checked out?
A. Generally, yes, if there isn't a hold on them, if they're not already overdue, or if you don't owe any fines.
- Maag Library books have no renewals, (exception: when borrowers are from other OhioLINK institutions). See Loan Period table for more information.
- OhioLINK books can be renewed up to four (4) times, provided there are no other existing HOLDS.
- See Loan Period table for more information.
You may renew Maag Library or OhioLINK books in person, by telephone (330-941-3678) or online.
To renew books online:
- Click on view Your Library Account.
- Enter your name and YSU ID and password.
- Click Items checked out.
- Put a check in the boxes beside the books you wish to renew.
- Click Renew selected items
- When you are finished, click Start Over then Logout to exit.
For books received through Interlibrary Loan from other libraries not in OhioLINK, contact the Interlibrary Loan/OhioLINK staff at (330) 941-3684 three days before the book is due to request a renewal. One renewal may be allowed; length varies, although 2 weeks is typical. If the band on your book has the message: No Renewals, the lending library does not allow renewals.
Q. How much are library fines?
A. Fines vary depending on who owns the books.
For materials borrowed from YSU's Maag Library or the CRC by YSU students, See Loan Period table for more information.
- Unpaid fines result in losing library privileges as well as being reported to the Bursar's Office. Once reported to the Bursar, other university privileges may be suspended until payment is received.
For materials borrowed by YSU patrons from other OhioLINK institutions (or Maag Library materials borrowed by patrons of Other OhioLINK institutions) See Loan Period table for more information.
- Fines for overdue OhioLINK materials are 50¢ per day with a maximum of $15 per book.
- Lost or non-returned books are charged at $110 per item plus the $15 maximum fine.
Fines for overdue SearchOhio materials are 50 cents per day with a maximum of $25 per book. Lost or non-returned books are charged at $25.00 default item cost plus the $25 maximum fine. See Loan Period table for more information.
- Unpaid fines result in losing library privileges as well as being reported to the Bursar's Office. Once reported to the Bursar, other university privileges may be suspended until payment is received.
Q. How do I find books or other items my instructor put on reserve?
A. Reserve materials for Maag Library are kept behind the Circulation Desk on the Main Floor. Additionally, some materials are kept on reserve at the Multimedia Center in Maag Library and at the Curriculum Resource Center in the Beeghly College of Education. See the guide to the Reserve Collection for additional information.
Q. Where can I find journal articles on my topic?
A. The easiest way to find journal articles is to search a Research Database and find article citations. Maag Library, in conjunction with OhioLINK subscribes to over 100 databases in various disciplines. Consult a Subject Guide for recommended databases for your area. There is also a list of Databases by Subject at http://www.ohiolink.edu/resources.cgi?by=subject. Most references in OhioLINK databases have a link entitled Find A Copy that shows you if an article is available online , at Maag Library or at another OhioLINK institution.
For assistance in searching for articles, contact library staff (see Get Help for contact information).
Q. Can I get to the article databases from home?
A. Access to most of these resources is restricted to current students, faculty and staff of OhioLINK Institutions due to licensing agreements. Courtesy Card holders (i.e. Friends of Maag Library or Alumni Association members) do not have off-campus access to licensed databases. See Off Campus Access for additional information.
Q. Where can I find information on how to cite my resources?
A. Consult the Citing Resources page for information on style manuals.
Q. Where can I get help in using the library or its resources?
A. Consult How to Find the Information You Need for a listing of helpful Web pages or find out how to get assistance from library staff on the Get Help page.
