A courtesy card extends library borrowing privileges to persons not affiliated with OSU (i.e. not enrolled in classes, not OSU employees). Please refer to the chart below to determine if you are eligible for a courtesy card.
Courtesy Patrons may have a maximum of 5 OhioLINK items checked out,
this includes items in transit to and from borrowing/lending
institutions.
Courtesy cards are issued at the Circulation Desks of Main
Library, Health
Sciences Library , Law
Library and Regional Libraries. A courtesy card allows you to
borrow any regularly circulated items, including
items available through OhioLINK, but may not give you access to all
library
services. For instance, Interlibrary Loan, many licensed OhioLINK
databases and E-Journals are not available to courtesy patron due to
licensing agreements. (A courtesy card is issued at the discretion of
the Library. All courtesy card
holders are subject to the same policies as the University community
and are responsible
to return and renew materials in a timely manner). Please contact the
appropriate library for specific information
relating to your individual situation.
| Patron Category | Supporting Documentation Required |
| Alumni Association Members(OSU) | Current Alumni Card & Picture ID |
| Battelle Institute Personnel | Agency ID |
| Campus Affiliated Agencies(ie.Located at OSU but not funded by OSU) | Letter from Director |
| Chemical Abstracts | Agency ID |
| CIC
Big Ten Faculty, Graduates & Undergraduate Students |
CIC Card and University ID |
| Emeritus Faculty | Buck ID |
| Friends of the Libraries | Membership Card |
| Kent State Library Student | On List in Group Courtesy Book |
| Librarian Greater Franklin Co. | ID |
| Non-OhioLINK (Ohio College/University) | Letter from Director, Home Library |
| OCLC Research Faculty | OCLC Card or University ID |
| OSU Picture ID no# (volunteer) | Buck ID no#, OSU Volunteer ID |
| Ohio Division Geological Survey | Agency ID |
| President's Club | Buck ID |
| Program 60 | Buck ID |
| Retired OSU Staff | Buck ID |
| Summer Seminar | On approved list from Dept. |
| Teachers/Federal Employees Franklin Co. | Federal/School ID |
| U.S. Geological Survey Employees | Agency ID |
| Un-enrolled Doctoral Student | Letter from Graduate Chair w/date |
| Visiting Faculty | Letter from Dept. Chair w/date, Buck ID |
** Courtesy cards issued at the Main Library are also valid at other OSU Libraries, including the Regional Campuses and the Health Sciences Library, and OhioLINK institutions, but not the Law Library.
**Contact the Law Library regarding eligibility for a Law courtesy card.
| Audiologist | Medical Illustrationist |
| Athletic Trainer | Medical records Admin., Tech., Clerk |
| Chiropractor | Medical Technologist |
| Circulation Technologist | Nurse |
| Clinical Psychologist | Nutritionist |
| Dentist | Occupational Therapist |
| Dental Assistant | Optometrist |
| Dental Hygienist | Optometry Technician |
| ECG Technician | Pharmacist, Prosthetic Technologist/Tech. |
| EGG Technician | Physical Therapist, Technician |
| Emergency Medical Tech./Paramedic | Physician |
| Hospital Administrator | Photographer, Biomedical |
| Laboratory Technologist, Tech. | Radiologic Technologist/Technician |
| Massage Therapist | Respiratory Therapist/Technician |
| Medical Communications Personnel | Social Worker (health related agency) |
| Medical Dietician | Speech Pathologist |
Other persons employed by hospitals, nursing homes or other direct
patient
care facilities (not specifically listed above) are eligible upon
presentation
of a current ID from that institution.
Undergraduate health professions students (local educational
institutions)
may be eligible for courtesy borrowing privileges upon presentation of
a letter from a faculty member explaining the student's needs.
**Courtesy cards issued at the Health Sciences Library are valid at
other
OSU Libraries, including the Regional Campuses, and OhioLINK
institutions,
but not the Law Library.
**Contact the Law Library regarding eligibility for a Law courtesy card.
| Attorneys working in Ohio | Ohio Law Librarians |
| OSU College of Law alumni | Ohio Judges and Magistrates |
| OSU Presidents Club Members | Others as approved by the Head of Circulation, Head of Reference, Associate Director or Director |
**Courtesy cards from other OSU Libraries are not valid at the
Moritz Law Library.