Circulation Services
The Circulation department provides many services related to borrowing library materials, including check-out, renewals and course reserves. Please contact us if you need assistance.
Check out
In order check out library materials, the following identification is needed:
- WSU faculty, staff and students
WSU-affiliated users will need a valid WSU identification card, which can be obtained at the Student Services Center. Faculty members who intend to have teaching or research assistants check out material for them should inquire about proxy cards at the Circulation Desk. - WSU Distance Degree (DDP) students
Students who are part of a WSU DDP program need to obtain their WSU identification card directly from the DDP department. Please contact DDP for assistance. - Summit Users
Faculty, staff and students from institutions that are part of the Summit (Oregon/Cascade Alliance) consortium will need to present valid identification from that institution. - Community Users
Residents of Clark county can apply for a library card, which will allow you to check out books from the library and to order books from other WSU Libraries. Applications are available at the Circulation Desk.
Check-out (Loan) Periods
Check-out periods for items vary. Some general guidelines are:
WSU Items
- Books: Most books check out for 30 days for undergraduate students, staff and off-campus borrowers, and one semester for graduate students and faculty.
- Journals: WSU Vancouver journals cannot be checked out.
- Media: 3-5 days
- Children's books & EIC: 2 weeks
- Reserves: 2hours - 1 day. varies
Summit Items
- The loan periods for most items checked out through Summit is 3 weeks.
Interlibrary Loan Items
- Items requested through Interlibrary Loan / ILLIad will have different check-out periods. Please check the item for information on when it is due.
All materials checked out are subject to recall if needed by another borrower. Since circulation periods vary, always be sure to notice when an item is due at the time you check it out. Remember that fines do accrue for overdue items. You can view your Record online to check the due dates of items you have checked out. Please ask if you have questions about check-out periods.
Renewals
If material is needed beyond the original loan period, it must be renewed. Renewals can be accomplished online by Viewing your Record in Griffin or may be requested at the Circulation Desk, in person or by telephone.
- Recalls: Items that have been recalled by another user cannot be renewed.
- Summit: Items checked out through Summit can only be renewed once.
- Reserve: Items on reserve cannot be renewed.
- Interlibrary Loan / ILLiad: Items ordered from other libraries through interlibrary loan / ILLiad cannot be renewed online. Please contact us for assistance
If you have questions about whether something can be renewed, please let us know.
View your record
You can view your Record to see a list of items you currently have checked out and when they are due. You can also renew checked out items and view the status of items you have ordered with request item. In order to view your record, you will need to login using the following information:
- Your name
- Your WSU ID number, preceded by a zero. For example, if your number is 12345678, then you would enter 012345678.
- Your PIN number. You can create a pin online.
Note: You can view your ILLiad account to see items ordered via Interlibrary loan / ILLiad. You will need to login with your ILLiad account information.
If you encounter problems with logging in, need assistance with your PIN or have questions about your record, please contact us.Overdue Items
Library materials become overdue if not returned by the due date. An overdue notice is usually emailed as a courtesy reminder. You are responsible for returning borrowed items on time whether or not an overdue notice is received. To ensure that you receive email notices, please ensure you have setup email forwarding.
Fine Information
The fine system is used by the library to encourage maximum accessibility to materials. Different kinds of materials have different check out periods and different fine costs. Fines accrue during all hours the library is open, including holidays. Fine invoices are mailed directly to the borrower. Payments can be made at the Cashier's desk in the Administration Building or by mail to the Office of the Controller, WSU, Pullman, WA 99164-1016.
Questions or problems about a particular fine may be directed to the Circulation Desk.
Reserve Items
Heavily used items and those requested by instructors for assigned class reading are kept at the Reserve Desk, located beside the circulation desk. Because of the demand for these items, loan periods are shortened, fine rates are higher, and materials cannot be "recalled." There are no renewals on reserve items.
To locate reserves for a specific course, visit the Course Reserves page.
Information on how to place items on reserve can be found on the Reserves Information page.
Recalls
If you need a book which is already checked out to another borrower, you may "recall" it by using Griffin. To do this:
- Locate the book in Griffin.
- Click on the "Request Item" button, located at the top and bottom of the screen.
- Input your name, WSU ID number and PIN number, and ask that the book be delivered to the WSU Vancouver Circulation Desk. If you do not have a PIN number yet, you can create one.
A "recall" may be requested any time; however, each person is permitted to keep borrowed WSU books a minimum of 2 weeks. Once a "recall" is initiated on a book, the borrower is notified that another person is waiting and given five days to return the material to the library. When the material is returned, the person requesting it is notified that the material is waiting at the Circulation Desk. Books that have been "recalled" are subject to higher than normal fees if not returned by the new due date.
Missing Items
If an item is not checked out and you cannot find it on the shelf, please report it to the Circulation Desk. This will start a systematic search for the missing item by members of the library staff. If the item is found, you will be notified. If the item is not found at the end of the search, a decision regarding replacement is made.
Ordering from other libraries
Griffin & Summit
Griffin, the library catalog, includes items owned by all the WSU Libraries. The Summit catalog includes items from colleges and universities in Oregon and Washington. As you use Griffin and Summit, you might find useful materials that are not located here on our campus. Remember, that you can have these items delivered to our campus.
- Users from WSU and Summit institutions: As you locate items in Griffin and/or Summit, look for a "request item" link or button, which will allow you to request the item be delivered to us. You will be asked to login with your name, ID number and PIN. Note, there are some items that cannot be requested this way.
- Community borrowers: If you locate books (using Griffin) that are located at another WSU library, you can request the books be sent to our campus by using ILLiad.
Interlibrary loan
WSU Vancouver faculty, staff and students can use ILLiad to request items that are needed. More information about interlibrary loan services is available.
Summit borrowers should refer to their home institutions for help with interlibrary loan services.
Community borrowers should refer to their local public libraries for interlibrary loan services.
For assistance in how to order items from other libraries, including other WSU Libraries, contact us.
Summit
Summit is a joint catalog that includes items owned at thirty-two libraries in Oregon and Washington. In addition to having a joint catalog, these libraries also have a consortial agreement, which means members of Summit libraries can visit any member library and check out/request items.
WSU faculty, staff, and students: You can visit and use other libraries in the Summit consortia. If you choose to check out items while visiting another library, you will need your WSU ID card and will need to have a PIN number. Be sure to create one if needed.
Summit users: We welcome you to our library. If you'd like to check out materials, please be sure to bring your official identification from your home institution.
Change of Address
Please ensure that the university has a current address on record for you. Faculty, staff and current students can check and update their addresses and phone numbers through myWSU. Note you will need your Network ID to login. Address information can be found under "my Profile" located on the left-hand side of the page.
Community borrowers can request a change of address form at the Circulation desk.
To ensure that you receive library notices regarding overdue and/or requested items, please ensure you have setup email forwarding.
Questions
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your library account, fines, checked out items, renewals or anything else, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help!
Security System
To ensure that library materials are properly checked out when they leave the library, an electronic security system has been installed. When a book is checked out, the Circulation attendant desensitizes it, allowing it to pass through the security gate. Material which has not been desensitized will cause the alarm to sound. Occasionally a non-library item will trigger the security system. Whatever the cause, when the alarm sounds, all books and packages will be examined to make certain that library materials have been properly checked out.