Who can borrow from the OHSU Library

• OHSU faculty, staff, and students are automatically granted a Library Account, which you can log into using your OHSU network account.
• Community users (not affiliated with OHSU) have limited access options. Learn more.

Pickup and delivery options

When requesting an item via the library catalog, you will choose from the following pickup locations:

• OHSU Library: Pick up holds at the BICC Library during our operating hours.
• After Hours: Pick up lockers are available outside of the BICC Library main entrance and outside the Graduate Learning Center at the RLSB.
• OHSU Campus Mail: We can also send your items via Campus Mail. Please provide your mail code when requesting your items.
• Distance Ed: On request, we will mail items using the U.S. Postal Service to Distance Education faculty and students.

Request items that OHSU does not own

If you need an item that is not in OHSU’s collection, you can request a copy from other libraries using your OHSU network account:

• Select "OHSU + NW Academic Libraries (Summit)" in our library catalog to include items from other regional libraries in your search.
• Use our Get It For Me interlibrary loan service to request items that are not available from either OHSU’s collection or via the Summit service.

Request a book chapter or journal article

If you need just one chapter or one article from an issue of a journal we only have in print form, we highly encourage you to request these electronically through our Get It For Me service—we’ll scan the parts you need, and you’ll have them in less than two business days in most cases.

Borrow equipment

Browse and reserve audiovisual and technology equipment

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Contact us!

Associated fees

These services are available at no cost to OHSU members.

Borrowing Periods

For most materials owned, OHSU students, staff and faculty can borrow for an initial period of 6 weeks. These can then be renewed automatically until requested by another patron.

Loan periods for Summit items borrowed from other NW academic libraries or through the Get It For Me service will vary by the decision of the lending institution.

Non-OHSU community members can borrow materials for 28 days and are allowed a maximum of three renewals.

Certain specialty and high-demand items, like those placed on course reserve, are subject to specific policies based on need.

Item by item information on loan and request policy is found by signing into your library account and searching for the item in the catalog.

Renewable items

Regular circulating print items are renewable, as long as no one else has requested the item.

How to renew

You will receive an e-mail notification only if someone else has requested the item. If you still need the item and you don’t receive an e-mail notification, you can keep it and it will be automatically renewed for you. You will not be charged overdue fees as long as your item is eligible for renewal.

If someone else has requested the item, you will receive a notification four days before it is due. If the item is not returned before the end of the loan period, you will be charged for the replacement cost of the book.

Summit items and items requested through our Get It For Me interlibrary loan service do not automatically renew. Please contact us for assistance.

Exceptions

Course Reserves and items that have been requested by another user are not renewable.

Return items via a book drop

• Next to the Portland Aerial Tram lower terminal
• Inside Graduate Learning Resource Center in the RLSB, 4^th floor atrium (special badge access required)
• South Waterfront
• BICC 3^rd floor lobby, outside the Library entrance
• (Unavailable through August 2024 due to construction) Top of Parking Garage C, in front of the Auditorium building and Mackenzie Hall, at the end of the BICC skybridge.
• Marquam Hill

Return items via mail

• Use Campus Mail (send to mail code: LIB)
• Use the postal service or other shipping company to send to our mailing address, listed on our Contact page.

If you lose or damage a Library item, you will be billed the full replacement cost of the item.

Current students, staff, and faculty members from institutions in the Orbis Cascade Alliance are eligible to borrow materials from OHSU Library as a Summit Visiting Patron. This program allows you to request and pickup items at any member institution for which you have a visiting patron account.

If you would like to be set up as a Summit Visiting Patron with OHSU Library, please contact us.  Visiting patrons will need to demonstrate their current status with their home institution and have an account set up before requesting any items.