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OhioLINK Print Materials Service Updates: Home

Statewide Delivery Service for print materials temporarily suspended for all OhioLINK and SearchOhio libraries

There will be a temporary state-wide suspension in OhioLINK and SearchOhio print lending between March 11 and the end of April as the state changes vendors. OhioLINK eBooks and eJournals will continue to be available.

What this means for Hiram College Library users this spring:
  • Please request any needed items prior to March 10 as we are anticipating delays. 
  • From March 11 until the end of April, you will not be able to request materials through OhioLINK or SearchOhio. 
What your Hiram College Library will do for you during this challenging time:
  • Librarians are here to help you find alternative resources! Contact library@hiram.edu or visit the Ask Here Desk.
  • Items are available via Interlibrary Loan at no cost to you. Items typically take about 10 days to arrive, so please plan accordingly. 
  • You may email library@hiram.edu and request that the library purchase items. If we are able to purchase it, we will do so and let you know when it arrives. 
  • If you have OhioLINK or SearchOhio items checked out that you need to keep through the end of the semester, you will be able to renew them. Please contact library@hiram.edu if you run out of renewals and we will manually extend deadlines. Fines will not be assessed during this time.
     

Contact the Library Director

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Janet Vogel
Contact:
Director, Hiram College Library
11694 Hayden Street, P.O. Box 67
Office #213 (1st floor)
Hiram, OH 44234
(330) 569-5353

Frequently Asked Questions

My book is due, and I can’t renew it, but I still need it for my work. What should I do?

Contact a librarian with your name, College ID number, the title of your book, and when you will be able to return it. We will manually extend the due date for you. Fines on OhioLINK or Search Ohio items will not be assessed during this time. 

How can I request an item from another library that Hiram College doesn’t own?

Fill out an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) request. ILL is offered at no cost to you and items typically take about 10 days to arrive. If you need assistance, contact us.

I want the library to purchase an item that I need. Who do I ask?

Contact us with your name, College ID number, the title of the book, the author of the book, and when you need it by. If we are able to purchase it, we will do so and let you know when it is available for checkout. Note: sometimes publishers will not sell their books to libraries, or a book may be out of print. We will contact you if we are unable to purchase the item and will try to obtain it via Interlibrary Loan. 

I am a faculty member, and my students rely on OhioLINK for their course texts. What can I do to help during this time?
  • Remind students about the deadline to request materials and encourage them to request items for final papers now.
  • Share your 3-week syllabus with students early so that they can request print materials before the March 10 deadline. 
  • Contact the library to see whether we can purchase a digital copy of your item(s) for student access. Note: sometimes publishers will not sell their books to libraries, or a book may be out of print. We will contact you if we are unable to purchase the item. 
  • If you have a print copy of your item(s) and want to place them on reserve, bring them to the Ask Here Desk and ask to complete a Reserve Form. You may also email Terri Foy (foytm@hiram.edu) with your request and then drop off the item at the Ask Here Desk. Hiram College Library materials may also be placed on reserve by emailing Terri. Reserve requests are typically processed within 1 business day. 
Why can’t lending continue during the courier service provider changeover?

The temporary suspension of service is necessary to avoid a backlog of materials in the system during the transition. 

Why is OhioLINK changing courier service providers again?

The contract for the statewide delivery service is a joint contract with the State Library of Ohio and we must follow Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS) guidelines. The July 2021 delivery service change was the result of a required competitive bid process. After making every effort to establish the delivery network, the Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS), the State Library of Ohio, and OhioLINK have come to agreement that it is necessary to again change providers to bring statewide delivery of library materials to expected levels of service.

The item I am looking for is on the shelf at a nearby college library. Can I go to that library and pick it up? 

Yes. Any college library in the state of Ohio offers borrowing privileges to Hiram College students, faculty, and staff. Be sure to bring your Hiram College ID with you. When you are checking out your item, tell the staff at the library you are visiting that your library barcode is your ID number. (They will know what that means!) We recommend that you call the library before driving there to confirm their hours, that the book is available for you to check out, and that they will allow off campus visitors. Some schools may still be limiting access to their campus due to COVID-19. If you have any questions about visiting another library to check out their materials, please contact us.

I have a question that was not answered. Who should I ask?

If you have questions that were not answered here, please contact us. You may also wish to view the OhioLINK FAQs.