• To locate books, print journals, films, or other material go to the Library Catalogs page. From there you can search the All USC Libraries Catalog or search the catalog of a specific campus. A valid USC ID is required to check out material from the Columbia campus libraries. If you are a currently enrolled distance education student and do not have a valid USC ID, a semester long barcoded library card can be issued to you by Distance Education. This card must be renewed every semester.

• To locate journal, magazine, or newspaper articles go to the University Libraries'
  Electronic Resources page. From here you will be able to select article databases and other electronic resources to search from a subject specific list or an A-Z list. You will also find information for off campus access to these electronic resources.

• Do you have a citation and want to know if the Libraries own the journal, magazine, or newspaper in which the article appears? If so, search our E-Journals to determine if we have access to the journal, magazine, or newspaper online. If it is not available online, check the library catalog to see if it is available in print.

For off campus access instructions please see Off Campus Access to the University Libraries Electronic Resources. For further assistance, please see the EZproxy - Remote Access Solution FAQ.

If the material that you need is not available electronically and you are unable to come to the USC Columbia campus to obtain the material, the following options are available for books, journal articles, and book chapters:

• Books
  

  You can use the interlibrary loan services of another USC campus, except USC Upstate. Please contact the Interlibrary Loan Department of the USC campus that you plan to use as they may have special policies or procedures.

  If using the interlibrary loan services of another USC Campus is not convenient, the Circulation Department will mail book/s from our circulating collection to students who are both registered for a distance education class through the USC Department of Distance Education and live outside of Richland County or Lexington County. If unable to return the book/s in person, the student will be responsible for returning the book either by mail before the due date. We recommend that the student return the book by a traceable mail system. For the request form and additional information about this service please go to:
  Distance Education Request

• Articles and Book Chapters

  If an article or book chapter is available at USC Columbia's Thomas Cooper Library, Business Library, Music Library, Math Library, or Library Annex only in print, you may be able to have the article scanned and delivered to your desktop via the Interlibrary Loan Department's Scan and Deliver service. For more information on who qualifies to use Scan and Deliver and how to obtain the article or book chapter please go to: Scan and Deliver

• USC-Columbia students can check-out materials from USC system libraries. Some USC system libraries have special ID requirements. Please contact the USC system library that you plan to use to learn about special requirements.

• Distance Education students can place interlibrary loan requests through a USC system library, except USC Upstate. Please contact the Interlibrary Loan Department of the library that you plan to use to learn about special policies or procedures.

• Distance Education students who are unable to reach one of these system libraries are encouraged to inquire at their local public library about interlibrary loan privileges.

• Columbia campus students should use the Thomas Cooper Library's Interlibrary Loan Department. Please note: materials will be held for pick-up at the Thomas Cooper Library.

• Ask A Librarian

• USC System Libraries

• If you need help getting started with your research, click on Research Tutorial

• LibGuides (Online guides that link to quality research materials for a subject or course.)

• Instruction and Training Services

• Services for Students

• University Instructional Services - Distance Education