Borrowing

Frequently Asked Questions

It is the borrowers responsibility to return items on time and in the same condition as when checked out.

Library hours  (Circulation desk closes 15 minutes before the Library closes)

How do I checkout an item?

What if the item is not on the shelf?

How long can I keep a book?

How long can I keep a video?

What about Reserves?

How do I renew items?

What if I have an item checked out and it's recalled?

What if someone else has the item I want?

What is the fine for an overdue/lost item?

How will I know if I have an overdue item?

Borrowing by user type

Students

Faculty and Staff

Alumni

Guests

How do I checkout an item?

• An Occidental College ID is required to check out library materials.
• Find the call number and location for the item using OASys, the Library’s online catalog.
• Items in the general stacks are shelved in Library of Congress call number order.
• Retrieve the item and bring it to the Circulation desk to check it out. Or use the self checkout machine across from the Circulation desk.
• If the book has a status of 'NOT CHECKED OUT' and you wish the library to page the material and put it on hold for you, select the REQUEST button at the top of the screen in OASys.

What if the item is not on the shelf? 

     Is it checked out?  

• By using OASys, the Library’s online catalog, borrowers may request a hold and recall on any item that is checked out. 
• Search the title in the OASys catalog.  If the status box has a due date, click the REQUEST button at the top of the screen. 

• Borrowers may request the Circulation desk to place a hold and recall on an item that is checked out. 
• You will need your ID and call number or title information for the items that you want placed on hold.

     Is it missing from it's spot on the shelf?  Make sure you have the correct call number and are looking in the correct location….is it oversize?  If you still can’t find it….

• Go to the Circulation desk and ask for a search to be done on the item you can not find.
• You will need your ID and call number or title information for the item that you want searched.  At the same time we initiate the search request, the title will be placed on hold for you and you will be notified when it is found.
• If you are Oxy student, faculty or staff and the item has an 'On Search' status, you may request the material from LINK+.

How long can I keep a book?

• Students (undergraduate and graduate): 21 days
• Faculty and Staff: 120 days
• Alumni: 21 days
• Other Authorized Users: 21 days
• LINK+: 21 days
• Interlibrary Loan: 30 days from the date the item was received by the Library.

How long can I keep a video?

• Students (undergraduate and graduate): 7 days
• Faculty 30 days
• Staff: 7 days
• Alumni: 3 hours LIBRARY USE ONLY
• Other Authorized Users: 3 hours LIBRARY USE ONLY

What about Reserves?

How do I renew items?   

    You can do it yourself using OASys, the Library’s online catalog. 

• To renew materials from OASys, click on My OASys Account, and choose Renew Books from the drop down menu. From the Library Home Page, click on View Your Account / Renew books.

• The next screen will ask you for 2 things: your user name and password.
• At the next screen, click on the button marked checked out items.
• Next screen offers a list of items checked out and a renew box to check.  You can check the box for specific titles and choose the RENEW SELECTED ITEMS button or choose the RENEW ALL button.
• If you cannot renew items, a message will appear on the screen. I f you are successful, a new due date will appear in the "STATUS" column. Always check the STATUS column for information on the success or failure of your renewal.
• Contact the Circulation desk (323 259-2640) for help with any problems.  If you are having trouble, some of the reasons may be:
            ---It is too soon to renew.  For 21 days loans, items may be renewed no  sooner than seven days before the due date. For reserve loans, items may be renewed no sooner than 1 hour before the due time, and for LINK+, items may be renewed no sooner than 3 days before the due date.
            ---The item was overdue too long and has been billed. 
            ---Another user has requested the item. 
            ---The item has reached the limit of times it can be renewed. 
                 -- 5 for a book 
                 -- 3 for a video 
                 -- 1 reserve items 
                 -- 1 2-week period for LINK+ 
                 -- 0 for Interlibrary Loan

     You can ask the Circulation staff to help you renew your materials. You will need your ID to request a renewal.

What if I have an item checked out that has been recalled?

• Recalled items MUST be returned by the revised due date.  When a recalled item is not returned by the revised due date, the borrower’s record is blocked and the borrower is unable to check out, renew, or order LINK+ or Interlibrary Loan. Failure to return a recalled item results in the loss of borrowing privileges until the recalled item is returned.

What if someone else has the item I want?

    Request a hold and recall

• By using OASys, the Library’s online catalog, borrowers may request a hold and recall on any item that is checked out.

• Search a title in the OASys catalog.  If the status box has a due date, click the Request button at the top of the screen.
• The next screen will ask for your user name and password.
• Borrowers may request the Circulation desk to place a hold and recall on any item that is checked out. You will need your ID and call number or title information for the items you wish the Circulation desk to help you place on hold.

    Request from LINK+

• If you are Occidental student, faculty or staff, you may request items from LINK+ instead of using the hold and recall feature.

What is the fine for an overdue/lost item?

• You are responsible for returning items on time and in the same condition as when checked out. You will temporarily lose your borrowing privileges when charges are in excess of the threshold assigned to your borrowing category (see borrowing by user type).
• When an item from the general stacks is 21 days overdue, you are billed for the replacement cost of the item, including a non-refundable $10.00 fine. 
• LINK+ and Interlibrary Loan fines are $1.00 per day.  When an item is 15 days overdue, you are billed $115 for replacement costs of the item, including a non-refundable $10.00 billing fee and $15.00 in fines.
• VIDEOS: When a video is 7 days overdue (24 hours for library use only categories), you will be billed for the replacement cost of the video, including a non-refundable $10.00 billing fee.

How will I know if I have an overdue item?

     Due Dates

• The due date is recorded inside the back cover of the item.  LINK+ and Interlibrary Loan materials show the due date on the borrowing strap.
• Due dates are listed in your patron record.  You can view your patron record using OASys. At the OASys search screen, click on My OASys Account and choose Login from the drop down menu.
• The next screen will ask you for 2 things: your user name and password.
• At the next screen, click on the button marked checked out items.
• The next screen shows the checked out items. Look for due dates in the status column.

     Reminder Notices

• Reminder notices are sent to your email address. If you do not register your email address, reminder notices will be sent via postal mail.  The Library does not guarantee the delivery of reminder notices, either by email or postal mail.  You are responsible for returning items on time.
• Occidental General Stacks books: Overdue reminders are sent on the first day that a book is overdue.  A second overdue reminder will be sent four days later.  At 21 days overdue, you will receive a bill for the replacement charges and a non-refundable $10.00 fine.
• Reserve items and laptops: Due to the short hourly checkout periods, no overdue reminders are sent.
• LINK+ & Interlibrary Loan: A courtesy reminder is sent a few days before the book is due. Overdue reminders are generated at one and four days overdue and the bill is generated when an item is 15 days overdue and includes fines of $1.00 day (max 15 days) and a non-refundable $10.00 billing fee.

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