The OhioLINK consortium recognizes that courtesy borrowers are a small but important
segment of the OhioLINK community. To provide basic services to this segment of our
community, LAC re-affirms its stated policy regarding the availability of OhioLINK PCirc privileges
in limited quantities (see Policy E-7, Patron Block Tables). Each institution will determine if some
or all of their courtesy card users will be granted PCirc privileges. Once a courtesy card patron
has an account, direct-borrowing processes and privileges should come into play.
The spirit of the policy is to include as many classes of courtesy card borrowers as is feasible.
While providing for local determination of courtesy-card-holder eligibility and costs, it is not the
intent of this policy for institutions to simply make a blanket exclusion of PCirc privileges for
their courtesy card holders.
On-Site Borrowing for Courtesy Card holders:
OhioLINK libraries will provide on-site borrowing privileges at agreed to levels (see Policy E-7,
Patron Block Tables) using the established direct-borrow processes. As with established
processes, any patron using direct-borrow must be in good standing at their home library.
Research database access to courtesy card holders and other community users:
Research databases will not be actively promoted as a resource to the general Ohio population.
Any access to OhioLINK research databases must comply with current licensing agreements as
required by contract.
Off-campus access will be limited to current students, faculty, and staff only.
Institutions are encouraged to provide courtesy card holders use of public access workstations
when possible and when such usage does not conflict with the institution’s networking or IT
security policies.
Original Policy Written 3/23/1995, Revised 9/10/10
