Distance Learning

About

At Syracuse University Library we recognize that distance education and off-campus Ph.D. students may need to access Library services in a different manner than traditional on-campus students. The Library recognizes distance education students as those who are enrolled in a distance education program at Syracuse University.

The information below outlines the policies and services we provide specifically for students enrolled in distance education programs. Along with other SU Library users, distance education students are expected to comply with Syracuse University Library policies unless otherwise stated here. Paper copies of the Library's policies for distance education students are available from E.S. Bird Library, and the Science and Technology Library.

The following policies refer to books borrowed from E.S. Bird and the Science and Technology Libraries. Borrowing privileges at the Barclay Law Library, the Martin Luther King Jr. Library, and Moon Library at the SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry will differ. Please refer to these libraries for their borrowing privileges.

Research Assistance

If you are in need of assistance in using any of the Library's resources or services you are welcome to contact us via e-mail, chat or phone. Link to Ask Us!
You can request assistance from any of our Library Subject Specialists.

Borrowing Books While On Campus

The loan period for distance education and off-campus Ph.D. students is 28 weeks, although some exceptions may apply depending on the type of library material.
Materials may be renewed up to three times per material. Please bring your SU I.D. card to the Circulation Desk, along with the materials you wish to check out.
In order to receive the 28 week loan period, you must inform the circulation assistant that you are a distance education or off-campus Ph.D. student.
Be sure to double-check the due date before leaving the circulation desk. You are responsible for all books checked out to you until they have been received at the library and checked in.

Borrowing Books While Off Campus

You may borrow SU Library books using the Distance Learning and Off-Campus Ph.D. Book Request Form available through the SU Library's home page. Library books will be mailed from the Library to addresses within the United States and Canada only.

We regret that the following items cannot be retrieved or mailed to distance education students:

Items that have restricted use such as reference books or whole issues or volumes of magazines or journals;
Library materials from the following libraries: Syracuse University Law Library, Martin Luther King (MLK) Library, SUNY Environmental Science & Forestry's ESF Moon Library, books belonging to other institutions.

Returning Books

You are responsible for books checked out to you until they are checked in again at the Library.
To avoid fines, mail the books in time to be received by the Library on or before the due date.
Please insure the books you mail back to the Library, in order to help track any lost materials.
The Library recommends that residents of the United States return items via UPS because the company provides automatic tracking and $100 insurance per package.
If you are mailing more than one book, please insure for more than $100. Wrap or box the books securely, and mail them to:

Bird Library Circulation

222 Waverly Ave.
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY 13244-2010
Phone number: 315.443.5727

Book Renewals

Instructions for Online Book Renewals

Recalls

You may request a book that is checked out to another Library user. All books are subject to recall.
You can recall a book from the Classic Catalog by clicking on the "Request" link at the top of the page. Type in your SU ID number (all ten digits, adding a zero at the end of the nine digit SU ID number, if need be) and your last name at the prompt and follow the instructions.
When a book you have checked out is requested by another user or for a class assignment, you will be notified by e-mail to return it. This notification will include a new due date.
Please mail the book to the library from which you borrowed it before the new due date. For students with addresses in Canada, please use airmail.

Access to Journal Articles

Journal articles and e-journals are available to off-campus library users. Please refer to the Instructions for Remote Access to Electronic Resources.
If an article is not available on-line, the Library will e-mail (or regular mail within the United States) copies you, whether they are from the SU collection or not.
To request articles unavailable on-line, students should use ILLIAD, the Library's Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Service.

Note: If you are requesting an article that the Library does own, when submitting your article request through ILLIAD, please be sure to indicate in the notes field: "Distance Student - SU owns journal".

Interlibrary Loan

Syracuse University Library does not obtain or loan books from other institutions to distance education students.
If you need books that the Syracuse University Library does not own, please check with Interlibrary Loan services at a public library near you.

Access to Other Libraries

Locating nearby library services can be instrumental to your success as an distance education student.
State institutions of higher education often extend privileges to in-state residents. On the other hand, while many academic libraries welcome unaffiliated visitors and offer services to them, they often have service restrictions, including restrictions on borrowing privileges. Some may charge user fees, and a few may deny access altogether.
A letter of introduction from the SU Library can be helpful in some instances. We are happy to furnish letters of introduction, which you may request in person from the Business Services office (Room 014) at E.S. Bird Library.