Library Information & Services
Borrowing
Borrowing privileges are extended to current OC students, faculty and staff with the exception of individuals who meet the criteria for guest privileges. A current I.D. along with the materials needed must be presented at the circulation desk.
Loan Periods & Check Out Limits
| Loan period | Limit | |
| Undergraduate students: | 2 weeks | 15 items |
| Graduate students: | 3 weeks | 25 items |
| Staff: | 2 weeks | 15 items |
| Faculty Adjuncts: | 3 weeks | 25 items |
| Faculty: | 4 months | No limit |
Overdues
Overdue materials have fines according to the type of material. Overdue notices are sent by email. These notices are a courtesy, and failure to receive such a notice will NOT reduce or cancel fines. Failure to pay fines or return books will bar you from borrowing library materials. When the fine is $3.00 borrowing privileges are revoked.
Grace Period
There is a five day grace period for overdue OC books. No fine will be generated if a book is returned within five days of the due date. On the 6th day the fine is retrospective and will be $.60. There is no grace period for interlibrary loan material or for DVDs.
Renewals
Books can be renewed unless another patron has a hold on the item. Renewals cannot be made by phone.
Recall
Library materials are subject to immediate recall if needed for class reserves. Materials needed by another patron are subject to recall on the due date.
Book Drop
Returned materials may be left in the book drop located outside at the southwest corner of the library at any time. If the material is placed in the book drop after the library closes it will not be discharged until the following day and overdue fines may be imposed.
Reserves
Some items in high demand for a particular course have been placed on reserve by the instructor. These items are located at the circulation desk, and can be checked out for a limited period of time. Most of the items on reserve cannot leave the library. Reserve materials are identified as (RESERVE) on the online catalog.
Instructors may choose to place items in eReserves instead of having a paper copy available at the circulation desk. Items in eReserves are available through a link in the Blackboard page for the course (available at bb.oc.edu).
An instructor who wishes to place an item on reserve can:
- fill out a form at the circulation desk or
- complete an online form.
Guest Privileges
Eligibility
Guests may be given borrowing privileges if:
- They are alumni of OC living in the Oklahoma City metro area, -OR-
- They are retired faculty of OC living in the Oklahoma City metro area, -OR-
- They serve as preachers for Churches of Christ in the Oklahoma City metro area.
Conditions
- An application must be completed by eligible applicant, verified and approved by Beam Library (Application is available at the circulation desk).
- Allow 7 days for application processing.
- An annual and non-refundable fee of $25 must be paid to Beam Library.
Provisions
- Reserve material are not available to guests.
- A guest may have only 2 charged books at any time.
- The loan period for guests is 2 weeks.
- Books may be renewed one time only.
- All other rules governing Library usage apply to guests as well.
- Unreturned books or unpaid fines will result in loss of privilege.
- Guest agrees to pay replacement costs for any materials lost or damaged.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
What is ILL?
Interlibrary Loan is a service provided to current OC students, faculty and staff to obtain materials NOT held in the Beam Library within copyright limitations. Most libraries lend books and provide photocopies of periodical articles. Other materials may be available depending on the policies of individual libraries.
How ILL Works
Interlibrary loan requests can be made in two ways:
- by filling out a paper form available at the circulation desk (the completed form should be returned to the circulation desk).
- by filling out an online form on the library's Web page (click on the Interlibrary Loan link in the Request It Online category).
- by clicking on the ILL button available in many of the research databases.
Loan Period and Renewal Procedures
The loan period is determined by the lending library. A renewal request must be made four days in advance of the due date and left at the circulation desk. Only 5 ILL books can be renewed for a student each semester.
Charges for ILL
- Any charges to the Beam Library will be billed to the borrower. If there is a charge by the lending library, the borrower will be notified beforehand to determine if the fee will be paid or the request should be canceled.
- The minimum charge for photocopies is $0.05 per page.
- $0.50 per day for overdues.
- $1.00 for every book that is not picked up before its due date.
- $1.00 + $0.10 per page for every article that is not picked up by the end of the trimester.
- No reorders of a title for a student during the same semester.
- A borrower is responsible for reimbursing the lending library for material which is lost, stolen or damaged. The charge is designated by the lending library.
Library Instruction
The library faculty works in conjunction with academic departments to provide
bibliographic instruction in the classroom based on the needs of specific
coursework. Individual assistance is also available, and all library users are
encouraged to use it. To see examples of the materials used in library
instruction, please visit the
Find Research Help page to browse
the library instruction pages by subject, class, or task.
Research Help
Research help is provided whenever the library is open. If you need help finding information, you can:
- ask one of the librarians (if a librarian is not available at the reference desk, please request assistance at the front desk),
- call the reference desk at 425-5312, or
- fill out the Ask a Librarian form on the Library's Web site.
Library Computer Lab
The library's computer lab is available for research purposes. It is located on the library's first floor near the reference desk. The lab provides access to the Internet and all other electronic services provided by the library. Printing charges are $.10 per page for anyone who is not a student, staff or faculty member of the university.
Please send comments or suggestions to askalibrarian@oc.edu