Student Services


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Borrow Materials from the Library

Students can check out library materials at the Main Desk using their FSU ID cards. Items available for check-out include books, DVD’s, microscopes, and models. See User Access at a Glance to view information on loan periods, overdue fines, and other library policies. 

There is no check out limit on accounts in good standing. Students may check out any number of items from the circulating collections. Circulating collections include items in the Main Stacks, Popular Reading, New Arrivals, DVD's, Juvenile, Oversize, and additional audiovisual materials. 

For more information about the Library's borrowing policies and procedures, please visit the Ort Library Borrowing and Circulation Policies page.

Access Your Library Account

Students can renew items, manage hold requests, and view their library record online by logging into their Library Account. Students will use their FSU network credentials (email username and password) to login. 

Renew Items 

Items can be renewed three ways: 

  1. Online by logging into your Library Account.
  2. Over the phone by calling the Library's Main Desk at 301-687-4395 during open hours and speaking with a member of Library staff. 
  3. In person by stopping at the Library's Main Desk with your FSU ID card (you do not need to bring the items in that you wish to renew). 

Steps to renew online: 

  1. Log into your Library Account.
  2. Click on your name from the top right corner.
  3. Select "My Loans" from the drop-down menu.
  4. Click on the items you want to renew.  Be aware that your checked-out items are organized by the USMAI library that owns them. A new due date will be assigned once the item is renewed. Not all items are renewable, please read any messages that appear on screen to confirm renewals. 

Request Materials Not in the Lewis J. Ort Library

USMAI and Request an Item:

The Lewis J. Ort Library is connected to 17 other libraries within the University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions (USMAI) from which faculty, staff, and students can borrow materials. If you’re having trouble locating materials at FSU, try searching SearchCat to include other USMAI libraries.

Items requested from other USMAI libraries are typically shipped within 3-5 business days at no cost to students. Items can be requested through SearchCat using the “Request from USMAI Libraries” option on individual item records.

Once an item arrives, students will receive an automated email notification from the owning library (not FSU) and can pick the item up at the Main Desk with a valid FSU ID card. Arrived requests will be held for 10 days on the hold shelf before being returned to the owning library.

Interlibrary Loan:

The Library offers Interlibrary Loan services to students to request items not available locally or within the USMAI system. Items can be requested from libraries throughout the world and typically arrive within 10 business days at no cost to students. Items can be requested through the interlibrary loan platform ILLiad, or through SearchCat. Look for the option to placed an interlibrary loan (ILL) request on the record.

For more information about using Interlibrary Loan Services, please visit the Interlibrary Loan page.

Find Databases and Journals 

Approximately 85 individual research databases are available to the Frostburg State University community in the A-Z Databases.  You may also view the databases according to category, type or provider or search for a specific database. Use databases to find journal, magazine, or newspaper articles or citations and abstracts of articles, book chapters, and more. The databases will also provide access to full text of these items if available. 

Journal Search lets you check the full-text availability of journals, magazines, and newspapers within the research databases. You can search for your journal, magazine, or newspaper by its title or browse the entire list by subject or provider. Journal Search will also provide you with information about the dates that are available and links to that journal at the appropriate databases that provide online access.  

Visit the Research Services page to learn more about A-Z Databases or Journal Search. 

Off Campus Access 

To access databases, journals, and other online resources while off campus, use your FSU username/password credentials. 

The 14-digit library barcode number on your FSU ID card (also available in PAWS) is important to interlibrary loan requests, but is not required for database access.

Use Course Reserves

Some instructors may opt to place reading or viewing materials on Course Reserves for students to access in the Library for shortened loan periods. Reserves are available at the Main Desk and are listed under the course instructor’s last name. Students should bring their FSU ID card to the Main Desk to request Reserves items. Course reserves typically check out for 2 hours at a time and must be kept in the library. There are occasionally exceptions to this loan period per the instructor.

In addition to course materials, students may also check out anatomy models, chemistry models, and microscopes. For more information about Course Reserves, please visit the Reserves page.

Find Places to Study and Work Space 

The Library has an abundance of study and group spaces for students.

Main Floor (3rd): The main floor houses the Library's Main Desk as well as collections featuring New Arrivals, Popular Reading, and Faculty Achievements. There are group and individual work spaces, lounge furniture, several banks of computers and printers, and 5 Group Study Rooms available.

2nd Floor: Multiple computer banks are available throughout the second floor. There is also one Group Study Room (228) as well as 2 private listening booths for using various types of audio visual materials. The rest of the floor has plenty of open group work tables for students to use.

4th Floor: The fourth floor is for Silent Study by individual students. Group work, talking, and cell phone use is not permitted on the fourth floor. There are 59 individual student study carrels available on this floor. Lockers are also available on this floor for students to rent for a semester.

5th Floor: The fifth floor is for Group Study with a number of tables for group work available in the open. There are also 2 Group Study Rooms and 9 individual study rooms. The Library's instruction classroom is also located on the 5th floor. Talking is permitted on this floor. The Honors Lounge, the Women's Studies Lounge, and the Center for Teaching Excellence are also housed on the 5th floor.

Both group and individual study rooms are always locked and available on a first-come, first-served basis for three hours. Keys may be checked out at the Main Desk with a valid FSU ID card.

Find a Group Study Room

Group Study Rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A key must be checked out from the Main Desk in order to use the rooms. Additionally, use of the Group Study Rooms specifies: 

  • Two students, both must be present when checking out the key and must remain in the room during the entire three-hour check out period
  • Three hour time limit
  • Keys are not to be removed from the library
  • Be respectful of the space, including keeping noise down and cleaning up trash 

For more information about the Group Study Rooms, please visit the Group Study Rooms page.

Rent a Library Locker

Students may rent a locker for the semester at no cost. Locker keys are available to check out at the Main Desk. Lockers are only available to current students. Any library materials kept in lockers must first be checked out at the Main Desk before being stored in the lockers. 

Where to Print, Scan, and Fax 

Currently, black-and-white printing on campus at FSU is free to students. Printers are located on both 2nd and 3rd floors. The printers are connected to banks of library computers for quick and easy printing while in the Library. The library printers cannot be connected to personal devices for printing. 

Color printing is available on the 3rd floor of the library for a cost of $.25 per page. Each time you print in color, the total cost is deducted from your Bobcat Express Card. You can add funds to your Bobcat Express Card here. 

Scanners are available for use in the Library. There are two scanners located on the 2nd Floor near the current Periodicals display area. The scanners are connected to library computer work stations and are equipped to scan up to legal size items (8.5" x 14"). 

Fax services are not currently available at the Library. Faxing is available elsewhere on campus for a fee. For questions about faxing, please contact the Lane University Center Information Desk at 301-687-4411.

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