FAQ : Frequently Asked Questions

• General Information
• Use of Materials
• Use of Facilities

General Information

Q1-1 What are the library hours?
Common A：It is differ to the libraries. Check Library Calendar of your library.

Q1-2 I forget my student ID card (Staff ID card, Library card). Can I use the library?
Central Library A： You can enter the library by writing your affiriation and student number on our visitor list. Please tell a staff at Circulation Desk. Remember that you can't borrow materials without your card.
Shikata Branch Library A ： You can enter the library by writing your affiriation and student number on our visitor list. Please tell a staff at Circulation Desk. Remember that you can't borrow materials without your card.

Q1-3 I want to be in the stack.
Central Library A：If you are a 4th grade, a graduate student or a faculty, you can get in the stack after application.　
If you are a student in other grade, user from outside of university or user without need to get in the stack, fill out the “Request Form for Materials Located in the Stacks” to use material in the stack. Check here for detail.

Q1-4 Can I eat and drink in the library?
Common A：Eating is not allowed in all the libraries to avoid damage to materials due to bugs and molds.
Central Library A：Drinking is allowed except near the computers. Drink without cap is allowed only in Relaxation Station, Learning Commons and Language Learning Space in 1F of Main Building.
Shikata Branch Library A ：You can bring drinks with caps in the library.

Q1-5 I want to visit the library by car. Is there any parking spaces?
Central Library A：There are no parking space only for library visitors. Please use parking spaces for visitors on campus. Remember that entering by car is fee-charged on Tsushima Campus.

The Charge
　First 1 hour　　　　　　　　free
　1-2 hour　　　　　　　　　　200 yen
　Each additional hour　　　200 yen
　Macimum charge per day　1000yen

*Parking space is not many. Please use public transport if you can.
Shikata Branch Library A ：No parking space only for library users. We advise you to use public transport wherever possible.

Use of materials

Q2-1 Material I need is in a laboratory. Can I use it?
Common A：If you are a member of Okayama University, note material ID and ask staff in Circulation Desks. We'll tell you who have it so that you can visit the laboratory by yourself.
*Non-member of Okayama University is not allowed to use materials in laboratories.

Q2-2 Can I reserve materials?
Central Library A：You can reserve books in Central Library which are currently borrowed (except in special borrowing).
Visit My Library in our web page and reserve books. Check detailed use here.
Shikata Branch Library A ：You can reserve books in Shikata Branch Library which are currently borrowed. (No reserbation for books in laboratories.) You can't use My Library to reserve books in Shikata Branch Library. Please ask staff at Circulation Desk.

Q2-3 Can I extend loan period?
Common A：You can renew once. Bring your student ID card (staff ID card, Library card) and books to renew to Circulation Desk.
Users who have student/staff ID card with IC chip in it and university member who applied are able to renew via My Library. Please check detailed use here.
* You can’t renew serials and books for lecture.

Q2-4 I want to borrow books for a long time for my thesis.
Central Library A：There is a long term borrowing for writing thesis for 4th grade and graduated students. You can borrow books till February of the fiscal year.
Fill in and get signature of your tutor's on the form on Application Forms page, and hand it to a staff in Circulation Desk on 9 am to 5 pm, weekdays.
Shikata Branch Library A ：There is no special long borrowing in Shikata Branch Library.

Q2-5 Okayama University doesn’t have the book I need.
Common A：You can borrow books from other library via Okayama University Library. Check here for detail. Remember that it is a fee-charging service and you may not borrow some kind of materials such as serials and special corrections.

Q2-6 I can’t find materials I need and I don’t know how to search.
Common A：There are tools to search materials and we can show you how to search. Please ask staff in Research Help Desk in Central Library or Desks in branch libraries.

Q2-7 I want to know how to search articles in journals.
Common A：See How to Find in our web page.

Q2-8 I’m a member of Okayama University but I want to use a library of another university.
Common A： Libraries of national university allow users from outside the university to use them. Bring your student or staff ID card for entrance application. Check detailed use by their web page before you go.
Private libraries may need a letter of introduction issued by Okayama University Library. Please ask your library at least a week before the day you go.

Q2-9 Can I request the library to purchase materials?
Central Library A：Students can request by "学生希望図書申込書(Gakusei Kibou Tosho Moushikomisho)". Fill in the form and drop it in the designate box or hand it to a staff in Circulation Desk.
Shikata Branch Library A ：Students can request by "学生希望図書申込書(Gakusei Kibou Tosho Moushikomisho)". Fill in the form and drop it in the special post in the library.

Q2-10 Can I borrow the newest issue of a journal?
Common A：You can’t borrow it until the next issue is accepted to the library.

Q2-11 Which newspaper do you subscribe? How long do you keep them?
Central Library A：We subscribe newspapers below. It depends on newspapers how long we keep them. Ask staff for detail.

Shikata Branch Library A ：We subscribe newspapers below. We keep them for 6 months.

Q2-12　How can I read thesis of Okayama University?
Common A: You can search and read biographic information (author, title, summary) in Okayama University Scientific Achievement Repository. You can read all the text of some thesis in it. Central Library manages thesis. Ask Circulation Desk for printed thesis.

Q2-13 Can I borrow books in library on other campus?
Common A: There are two ways to borrow book on other campus.
(1) Go and borrow directly.
(2) Use Inter-library Loan (ILL) service and borrow books via your library.

Lending to user belongs other campus.

(1) Bring your student/staff ID card or Library Card, when you go and borrow directly.
You can return books of Central Library to Shikata Branch Library and vice versa. However, you need to return journals and audio materials to the library you borrowed.
You can’t return books of Central and Shikata Branch Library to IPSR Branch Library.

(2) Please submit “Interlibrary Loan Request Form” to your library or request from My Library when you use ILL service. Borrow and return books at your library in service. Ask staff for detail.

Q2-14 Can I borrow books in the library? (user from outside of university)
Central Library A：Yes, but except Jan. to Feb. and July to Aug. Ask staff for detail.
Shikata Branch Library A ：Yes, but except terms of exam of the university.　Ask staff for detail.
IPSR Branch Library A：We don’t directly lend user outside of campus. Use ILL service of public library or library of you university.

Q2-15 If I borrow maximum number in my library, can't I borrow in other library anymore?
Common A: We count the number separately. You can borrow materials up to maximum number in both library.
Penalty imposed due to delay is common to all libraries. If you delay to return book to a library, you can't borrow at other libraries.

Q2-16 Can I use e-journals and databases from outside of campus?
Common A: You can use some e-journals and databases if you have Okadai ID. The list of e-journals and databases you can see off campus is here.

Use of Facilities

Q3-1 Can I use a laptop in the library?
Central Library A：You can use a laptop except in Silent Area on 3F of Main Building. There are wireless LAN spots in the library.
There are laptops for students and faculty to use in the library. Borrow them at Circulation Desk.

Shikata Branch Library A ：You can use your laptop except in Silent Area on 3F. There are wireless LAN spots in the library. Visitors are able to use public wireless service provided by Okayama Prefecture. Check detail here (Japanese Language page).

Q3-2 Can I use e-journals and databases in the library?
Central Library A：There are computers for users who have Okadai ID.
There is a computer for Okayama University member without Okadai ID. Visit Research Help Desk in 9 am to 5 pm, weekdays.
Shikata Branch Library A ：There are computers for members of Okayama University.
If you aren’t member of Okayama University, ask staff in Circulation Desk. Staff will search for you.