HARRIS LIBRARY

OhioLINK is a statewide library and information network linking universities, colleges, technical and community colleges, and the State Library of Ohio. Case Western Reserve University's participation in OhioLINK allows students, faculty and staff to access the collections of over 85 libraries. The holdings of all OhioLINK libraries can be searched at one time in the OhioLINK Library Catalog. Click here for specific information on other OhioLINK resources.

1. Getting to the OhioLINK Library Catalog.

There are two main reasons for using the OhioLINK Library Catalog:

• To locate a specific title when it is not available at Case Western Reserve University.
• To look for additional books on a topic that might not be well represented in the Case library system.

You can get to the OhioLINK Library Catalog in three different ways:

• A. From the web
  Go to OhioLINK website. Then click on OhioLINK Library Catalog. Select what you want to search for and type in your search.

• B. From the Case Library Catalog
  Choose the OhioLINK option when you go to the  Library Catalog. Then click on OhioLINK Library Catalog. Select what you want to search for and type in your search.

• C. From a search in the Case Library Catalog.
  When you are doing a search for a particular title, author or topic in the Library Catalog you can switch over to the OhioLINK Library Catalog at any time by clicking on the OhioLINK button near the top of the screen. This will give you results in OhioLINK for the exact search you have just completed in the Case Library Catalog.

Once you get to the OhioLINK Library Catalog, you will search for titles the same way you do in the Case Library Catalog.

Click here for our list of tutorials on how to use the Library Catalog,

and our tutorial

Using OhioLINK in the Library Catalog.

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2.  Requesting an Item through OhioLINK

One of the main advantages of using the OhioLINK system is that it allows you to order books (and some other items) from other Ohio academic and public libraries and have them sent to a Case campus library. An OhioLINK item gets checked out to you just like an item owned by a Case library.  The loan period for books is 21 days and you are permitted four renewals as long as another person has not requested the item. 

In order to be able to request an item, it must NOT be available at ANY of the Case campus libraries. 

In order to request an item it must meet one of the following conditions:

• Currently checked out from all Case libraries
• Currently on Reserve
• Designated for Library Use Only (meaning it is a reference book)
• Missing
• Not owned at all by any of the Case libraries

To check whether a title is available from OhioLINK you will need to check the OhioLINK Library Catalog. You can get there by one of the steps listed at the beginning of this tutorial. If you search the OhioLINK Catalog and the title is owned by at least one OhioLINK library you will get a message telling you how many OhioLINK libraries own the item. For example: 



If you click on the " OhioLINK libraries have this item" statement you can find out which libraries own the item and whether that item is checked out or available. You then have the option of going to that OhioLINK library in person and borrowing the book directly using your Case ID card. 

OR you can choose to have the book sent to you from another OhioLINK library for pickup at one of the Case campus libraries. (Remember this is for BOOKS AND OTHER CIRCULATING MATERIALS ONLY, not for journal articles or journals.) To do this click on the " Request This Item" statement. 

You will then be asked to answer the following questions:

Scroll the list of available choices and choose CWRU from the list. Then click on the SUBMIT THE ABOVE INFORMATION button. This will take you to the next screen where you will get the following directions: 

Please enter the following information:

• Your Name
• Your Case Account number

Indicate your Pickup Institution (defaults to CWRU) and Pickup Location (choose from the list of libraries, the book will be sent to whichever library you choose.  For example: MSASS Harris Library).  You can also choose a different Pickup Institution and Library than Case.   Click here for more information on OhioLINK's Pickup Anywhere .

When you have filled in ALL of the above information, click on the SUBMIT THE ABOVE INFORMATION button. 

You will get a message that your request has been sent to an OhioLINK library.

You will need to allow five to seven business days for your book to arrive at the Case library you have chosen. You will be notified when the book has been received on the Case campus. OhioLINK books are checked out at the circulation desk and can be renewed up to four times before the book must be returned.

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3.  Checking the Status of Your Request

To find out the status of your OhioLINK request, you can choose View Your Library Record from the Library Catalog and choose the requests(holds) link.  You will see one of the following messages next to your requested item.

OL Requested  -  your request is still being processed by the OhioLINK library that owns it.

In Transit - the book is on the way.

OL Received  - the book should be at the campus library ready for you to pick up.

If the OhioLINK library cannot fulfill your request you will automatically receive an e-mail informing you of that fact.  You should then try to re-submit your request or check with a librarian for further clarification or alternatives.