Borrowing Books & Media

At the Circulation / Course Reserves Desk patrons can check SDSU Library books out, check out print course reserves, check out Circuit, Link+, and Interlibrary Loan materials, place requests to search for items not on the shelf, contact the Library Security Guard, and search the Library's Lost and Found. Circulation / Course Reserves Staff are also available to answer questions about renewing materials online, requesting materials checked out by another patron, paying overdue fees, and anything else on this page.

• Library Catalog (the PAC)
• Course Reserves and Electronic Course Reserves (ECR)
• Borrowing Materials from Other Libraries
• Circuit
• Link+
• Interlibrary Loan
• Other Libraries' Catalogs
• Library PIN
• My Library Record
• Loan Periods & Renewals
• Overdue Fees
• Requesting Checked-out Library Materials
• Who Can Borrow Materials?

Library Catalog (the PAC)

The Library Catalog (the PAC) is a searchable database containing information about the majority of the library's circulating holdings. Use it to discover what books, media, and other materials the library has available for your use.

Course Reserves and Electronic Course Reserves (ECR)

The Library holds books, periodicals, and electronic journals on course reserve for faculty across campus. Students can check most of these books and periodicals out for loan periods determined by the course professor, at the Circulation / Course Reserves desk. To locate print or electronic reserves, visit our Course Reserves Page.

ECR are accessible to students via the Electronic Course Reserves page. Students receive passwords for ECR from their professors. Library staff cannot give out passwords. Students can only access ECR for classes in which they are currently enrolled.

Borrowing Materials from Other Libraries

If you cannot find a book or other item in our library that you wish to use, you can order the book from another library for free through Circuit, Link+, or Interlibrary Loan. These orders are delivered to our Circulation / Course Reserves desk, where requestors check them out.

Library PIN

For security reasons, the SDSU Library requires you to have a PIN (personal identification number), in addition to your SDSU identification number, to access and use a variety of electronic library services including Circuit, Link+, and Interlibrary Loan.

You can create your own library PIN by using the "My Library Record" option in the Library Catalog (the PAC). A PIN can contain up to 30 alpha or numeric characters. Try to develop a PIN you will remember. If you have problems creating or using your Library PIN, please contact the Circulation / Course Reserves Desk.

My Library Record

Patrons can view what books they have checked out, check the status of their holds, recalls, and other requests, renew books, and modify their PINs via My Library Record in the Library Catalog (the PAC).

Loan Periods & Renewals

Loan Periods and the number of renewals a patron is permitted vary according to patron, material, and location types. Patron type is defined by your affiliation with SDSU , (i.e. undergraduate, graduate, or faculty, etc.) You must present a valid SDSUcard when borrowing library material. Library materials can be renewed online, via My Library Record.

For books, loan periods and the number of renewals allowed to each patron type are generally:

Typical loan periods for other library materials, regardless of patron classification, are:

Loan periods for Circuit, Link+, and Interlibrary Loan materials vary depending on each service and the lending institution. These materials can be recalled at any time. They can be renewed online via My Library Record or Interlibrary Loan. Contact the Circulation / Course Reserves Desk with any questions. All renewals for these materials must be approved by the lending institution.

Overdue Fees

Overdue fees can be paid 24 hours after library material has been returned. Payment can be made on-line via the Student Financial Services website. Payment may also be made at the Cashier's Office in Student Services West (see campus map.) Fines for library material vary according to department and material type. Fines range from $0.25 per day for most books checked out from the general collection, to $1.00 per hour for Course Reserves. Schedules of fines are posted at most check-out points in the Library.

Requesting Checked-Out Materials

If the book you need is checked out, you can request that it be held at the Circulation / Course Reserves Desk for you when it is returned to the library. Requests are placed through the Library Catalog (the PAC), by selecting "Request / Hold" at the top of the screen. When your requested item has been returned and is ready for pickup, you will be notified by e-mail or mail. The item will be held at the Circulation / Course Reserves desk for eight days. When an item is unavailable patrons should also consider using LINK+ or Circuit to obtain it.

The Library cannot pull items from the Library Stacks which are not already checked out for patrons. If an item is listed as "Not Checked Out" in the Library Catalog (the PAC), patrons must retrieve it themselves. If you cannot find the item, please check at the Circulation / Course Reserves Desk.

Who Can Borrow Materials?

All SDSU faculty, staff, and students can borrow library materials. Community members and local businesses can apply for guest or corporate borrower cards for an annual fee. See the Borrowing Privileges at the SDSU Library for more information.