The OhioLINK Central Catalog

The OhioLINK central catalog is available from the AU Library homepage. It is a most useful tool for finding research materials not housed in the Ashland Library.

A number of services are available through OhioLINK, but the centerpiece of the OhioLINK concept is it’s central catalog described by OhioLINK in this way:

“OhioLINK offers access to more than 45 million library items statewide. To date, the OhioLINK central catalog contains more than 9.9 million unique master records from its 81 institutions, encompassing a spectrum of library material including law, medical and special collections. The catalog systems throughout the state provide capacity for more than 4,500 simultaneous users. The OhioLINK central catalog also is available to

outside users through the Internet. OhioLINK offers user-initiated, non-mediated online borrowing through its statewide central catalog. Our students and faculty have the ability to electronically request items while searching the OhioLINK central catalog. It also provides a delivery service among member institutions to speed the exchange of library items.”

Some things to remember about the OhioLINK central catalog.

Most items in the central catalog can be delivered to Ashland, Stark or Columbus centers, usually in 2-3 days for Ashland, or 5-6 days in Stark or Columbus.

Items available at the Ashland Library should not be requested from the central catalog.

It’s useful to search first in the AU catalog)and then use the “OhioLINK Central Collection” button at the upper right hand corner to automatically run the same search in the OhioLINK catalog.

Once you are viewing the central catalog click on “Search Tips and Information About This Catalog” for useful hints on advanced searching techniques in the OhioLINK central catalog. Since all academic libraries in Ohio use the same search software you will be comfortable searching in any library catalog in person or online.

You can physically visit any library in the OhioLINK system and take their circulating materials out of the library. However you must return those items to the Ashland campus.

The OhioLINK Library Loan policies are found on the AU homepage under the General Information link.