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The Circulation/Reserve Desk (503.725.5874), located to the left of main entrance to Millar Library, is a primary service point in the Portland State Library. The desk is staffed all hours the Millar Library is open, and provides a variety of services, described below.

Checking out Library Materials

General Collection

Circulating materials from the General Collection can be checked out at the Circulation Desk.  Borrowers must present the standard Portland State ID card, a Community Membership card or a library card from a SUMMIT-affiliated institution.  Non-circulating materials require a special loan, issued to graduate students and faculty by the 2nd floor reference desk librarians.

General Collection (Books)

Books are loaned to Portland State undergraduates, employees, and Community Membership card holders for a period of three weeks and eligible for 3 renewals. Graduate students are granted a twelve week loan period with 3 renewals. Faculty and graduate assistants are given an "extended" loan, with items falling due at the end of the current academic year. All items are subject to recall, regardless of your status. If a HOLD is placed on an item, the renewal option is blocked. Faculty, graduate assistants and graduate students will have the due date reduced to 7 days and late charges will apply. Some books are marked as LIBRARY USE ONLY and are considered non-circulating; however, graduate students and faculty may ask for a special loan which allows them a three-day checkout.  Materials such as music scores are treated like books.

General Collection (Periodicals)

Unbound periodicals in the General Collection are considered non-circulating. The bound volumes of most periodical titles are also stamped "Library Use Only" and are intended for use within the Library only; however, graduate students and faculty may request a special loan three-day checkout.

VIDEO/DVD Collection

Items in the VIDEO/DVD Collection can also be checked out at the Circulation Desk. Most of the items in this collection circulate for one week only. Other items in this collection are used by instructors as teaching material, these items checkout for four hours only. (Faculty may ask for an alternative due date at time of checkout.)

Music Collection

Items in the Music CD collection can be checked out at the Circulation Desk.  For undergraduates, these items circulate for 3 days.  Checkout periods for faculty and graduate students are one week.  Some items in this collection are used by instructors as teaching material and are placed with course reserves.

LPs are filed on the 3rd floor, near the Microfiche catalogs.  Scores are shelved in room 398 on the 3rd floor, at south end of the curve.

CD-ROMs and Audio Cassettes (Non-Music)

These materials are located on the 3rd Floor, near the Sorting Area. In general, these items checkout for three weeks and are eligible for three renewals. Some of these have been designated LIBRARY USE ONLY and checkout for two hours only.

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Returning Library Materials

Reserve materials should be returned to the Circulation Desk to avoid fines and to make materials quickly available to other students.  For other materials, there are multiple options:

• The Circulation Desk, 1st floor Millar Library
• Drop box by Millar Library, South Stairs
• Drive up drop box, corner Harrison & 10th
• Drop off SUMMIT items at any SUMMIT institution and the items should be routed to us by courier.  Please allow for extra time for delivery.  SUMMIT institutions do not share circulation databases.
• Check the InterLibraryLoan FAQ for ILL options
• Items can also be returned by mail or delivery service to:
  Portland State Library
  Circulation - Returns
  PO Box 1151
  Portland, OR 97207-1151
        - OR -
  PSU Library
  Circulation - Returns
  951 SW Hall Avenue
  Portland, OR 97201

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Obtaining Circulation Information

The library's automated circulation system provides up-to-the-minute circulation status information in the library catalog. The catalog will report, for example, that an item is "Checked out" (and due on a certain date), "At bindery," "Being held for a patron," "Billed as lost," "Bill Pending," "Missing," and so on. If you have questions regarding a circulation status report in the library catalog, ask for help at the Circulation Desk. Any unavailable items may be requested from SUMMIT.

My Library Accounts

Log on to your Portland State University Library account and view your checked out items borrowed through PSU, Summit and Interlibrary Loan. You may also view your user profile, pending requests, and holds. You may renew items, if renwals are allowed. This is a secure site, and you will need your Portland State ID number. All Portland State Faculty and all Portland State Staff may use their Portland State ID numbers or have the 4011000XXXXX input into their patron records by Circulation. Community User and enhanced Alumni cards will have the 4011000XXXXXXX barcode.

My Library Account

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Placing a Recall

If you need a book currently checked out by another borrower, you may use the "Request Item" option in the online catalog (may be a 10-day to 3-week minimum wait) or as a Portland State student, staff, or faculty you have the "Send Search to SUMMIT" option (approximately 3-5 days for delivery). The Circulation Desk uses your pdx e-mail address for courtesy, overdue and pick up notices. All library material is subject to recall after 10 days when requested by another patron.

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Item Not Found?

If an item shows AVAILABLE in the catalog but is not on the shelf and not in the Sorting Area (SE corner, 3rd floor), you should ask at the Reference Desk (2nd floor) or at the Circulation Desk (1st floor) for assistance. We will assist you, but you may need to fill out a "search request form" for the item. Library staff will search the collections regularly for the item and contact you when the item is located.  You may also request a missing item from SUMMIT, or request Library staff to do so after the search is completed.

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Paying Overdue Fines

The due date for checked out items is printed on a receipt and given to the borrower at the time of checkout.

Fines for items loaned by the week (i.e., 1 week, 3 week), a fine of $0.50 per day per item begins to accrue on the first day following the due date.
Fines for items loaned by the hour (i.e., 1 hr, 2 hr, 4 hr, 24 hr), a fine of $1 per hour accrues immediately after the item is due ($35 maximum). More fees and charges may be added depending on item type, location, and/or the amount of time the item is late.* For a more detailed list please see: http://library.pdx.edu/finesfeescharges.html

The library sends email notices to your pdx email adress two days before your items are due for renewal or return. You will not receive another notice until your item(s) are 1 week past due. All notices are sent as a courtesy; patrons are responsible for returning items if for any reason overdue notices are not received.

Recall fines: If a book has been recalled, a new due date is assigned. ALL patrons will accrue late charges if items are not returned by the adjusted due date.

For all fines: Approximately once a week the Portland State Library Billing Clerk will transfer late charges to Banner. A processing charge will be added to lost item charges. Interest and service fees will accrue on the total.  For information on paying fines and fees, see Student Accounts Services.

*Hourly items may be billed (with a non-refundable processing fee) and replaced within 12 hours to ensure that access is maintained to these high-demaind items.  

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Obtaining a Portland State ID Card

For current Portland State students, faculty, and staff, the Portland State ID Card serves as your library borrowing card. This card is issued by the Portland State ID Card Office (Window 9 Neuberger Hall).

In addition to Portland State students, faculty and staff, there are several categories of patrons eligible for borrowing privileges at the Portland State Library. Some of these patrons include emeritus faculty, visiting scholars and faculty and Senior Adult Learning Center students. Others, such as Portland State alumni who hold enhanced Alumni cards and individual researchers who have no formal affiliation with Portland State, can purchase a Portland State Library Community Membership Card, which entitles them to borrow some library materials. See:Who can borrow from the Library?

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Library Special-Use Rooms

Check real-time availability of library special-use rooms. 

Requesting a Group Study Room

The Library provides a number of Group Study Rooms located throughout the Library, which are checked out by the Circulation Desk on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, ask at the Circulation Desk. The rooms are checked out for three hours with no renewals. Groups must wait for 1/2 before checking out another room.

Listening Room

The library has a listening station that can be used by Portland State students. The Listening Room is located in Room 520 on the North side of the third floor. The key may be checked out at the Circulation Desk for two hours.

Video Viewing Rooms

The library has two types of video viewing rooms: a large single viewing room with many individual DVD/VHS stations, and a multi-viewing room set up with one monitor and many comfortable chairs for a group to view DVD/VHS material. The keys for these rooms can be checked out for three-hour increments at the Circulation Desk.

Practice Presentation Room

Getting ready for an in-class presentation? We now have two Practice Presentation Rooms in the Library to gain confidence with campus-standard classroom equipment! Check out the key for a room at the library's Circulation Desk, first come, first served. The rooms are available for use by current Portland State students for two-hour sessions. Groups must wait for 1/2 before checking out another room.

Family Friendly Room

The Family Study Room has two workstations for students and a play/reading area for children. It can accommodate two family groups at a time, and is available on a first-come, first-served basis by checking out a key at the Circulation Desk on the first floor of the Library. The room does not provide childcare, but offers a family-friendly place for student-parents to study and work on projects.

Faculty Study Room

The Faculty Study Room is envisioned as a well-equipped library carrel in which faculty members can get away from their offices for quiet reading, reflection, writing, and study. When fully occupied, the room can accommodate six people, four in armchairs and two at workstations equipped with scanners and connected to the campus network and networked printing in the Library. It is located in Room 430 of the Library (4th floor, north side).

 Sorting Area

The sorting area is located on the 3rd floor of the library in the Southeast corner. The sorting area is where all of the books that are checked in at Circulation are organized for re-shelving. If you are unable to find what you are looking for in the stacks, the sorting area is the next place to check for your item.  You may also request a search.

Reporting Problems

Staff at any service desk, including Circulation, can help if you need to report accidents, emergencies, and disturbances in the building. Some issues may be handled by a library person but some issues may need to be routed to Facilities or Campus Safety.

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Lost and Found

The Circulation Desk is the central area for Lost and Found items in the PSU Library. Please call 503.725.5874 to check for lost items. Valuable items, such as cell phones and ID cards, are retained here for about one week, then forwarded to Campus Safety. http://www.cpso.pdx.edu/

Other items are held for two weeks.

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Public Access Services Staff

Mission statement:

• The mission of Public Access Services is to connect with the Portland State University community members by effectively providing equitable access to the materials, spaces and resources they need.
  We accomplish this mission through a commitment to efficiency, collaboration, engagement and highest quality customer service.

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