Community Services


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Become a Community Borrower 

For those interested in accessing the Ort Library who are not students, faculty, or staff, the Ort Library offers a Community Borrower card. Community members and outside researchers are welcome to apply for a library card with a valid photo ID at the Circulation Desk. Applications for a Community Borrower card are also available online, but must be presented in person at the Circulation Desk. 

Learn about Allegany County One Card: A Partnership of Libraries 

The Lewis J. Ort Library at Frostburg State University is proud to partner with the Donald Alexander Library of Allegany College of Maryland and the Allegany County Library System public libraries to make it easier for library patrons to use all three libraries in Allegany County. 

If you already have a library card at one of the other libraries, you can present that card upon registration at any of the other partner libraries and that card can be linked to your account. Your accounts at each institution will remain separate, but you won’t have to carry three different cards in your wallet. 

You can also opt to use your FSU ID card if you have one and link it to your library record at the public library or at the ACM library. 

For more information or to have a card linked to your account, please see a member of the Circulation Staff at any of the partner libraries in Allegany County. 

Borrow Materials from the Library 

Community borrowers can check out library materials at the Circulation Desk using their library-issued Community Borrower card. Items available for check-out include books, DVD’s, headphones, and other types of audio visual materials. See User Access at a Glance to view information on loan periods, overdue fines, and other library policies. 

There is no check out limit on accounts in good standing. Community borrowers may check out any number of items from the circulating collections. Circulating collections include items in the Main Stacks, DVD's, Juvenile, Teaching Materials Collection, Oversize, and additional audiovisual materials.

For more information about the Circulation Desk policies and procedures, please visit the Ort Library Borrowing and Circulation Policies page. 

Use Your Library Account

Community borrowers can renew items, manage hold requests, and view their library record online by logging into My Account. First select Frostburg State University from the list of institutions provided. Users will then need to use their 14-digit library barcode number and their last name to login. The 14-digit library barcode number is located on the library-issued Community Borrower carded.

Renew Items 

Items can be renewed three ways: 

  1. Online by logging into My Account. 
  2. Over the phone by calling the Circulation Desk at 301.687.4395 during open hours and giving a member of staff your 14-digit library barcode number.
  3. In person by stopping at the Circulation Desk with your Community Borrower card (you do not need to bring the items in that you wish to renew). 

Steps to renew online: 

  1. Log into My Account.
  2. Click on “items borrowed/renewals”.
  3. Select the box next to the item you wish to renew.
  4. Click on the “Renew Selected” button. A new due date will be assigned once the item is renewed. Not all items are renewable, please read any messages that appear on screen to confirm renewals. 

Use Interlibrary Loan 

Interlibrary loan privileges are only available to current faculty, staff, students, and emeriti faculty members. Unless granted special permission for research by the Library Director, community borrowers do not have access to Interlibrary Loan. 

Find Databases and Journals 

Community borrowers have access to the Ort Library’s online resources only while on-campus. Approximately 85 individual research databases are available to the Frostburg State University community in the A-Z Databases. You may also view the databases according to category, type, or provider; or search for a specific database. Use databases to find journal, magazine, or newspaper articles or citations and abstracts of articles, book chapters, and more. The databases will also provide access to full text of these items if available. 

Journal Search lets you check the full-text availability of journals, magazines, and newspapers within the research databases. You can search for your journal, magazine, or newspaper by its title or browse the entire list by subject or provider. Journal Search will also provide you with information about the dates that are available and links to that journal at the appropriate databases that provide online access.   

Visit the Research Services page to learn more about A-Z Databases or Journal Search. 

Explore Local History and Genealogical Resources

Often community members seek out the local history and genealogical resources that the Ort Library has to offer. Access to Special Collections and Archives is by appointment only. Please contact 301.687.4889 for assistance in scheduling an appointment.

Local historical newspapers are available on microfilm and microfiche and can be accessed by visiting the Media Desk on the 2nd Floor of the Library. The Media Desk can be reached at 301.687.4426. Staff members can assist in searching and locating the microfilm/fiche, and also in operating the microfilm equipment.

For more information about our collections, please see the Collections page. If you are interested in learning more about Media Services or Special Collections & Archives, please visit those pages.

Obituary Requests

The Lewis J. Ort Library provides an obituary request service from our collection of local newspapers. Requests must include the name, death date (month, day, and year), and the title of the newspaper to check. Obituary requests are handled by the Special Collections Librarian/Archivist and can be made by contacting the Special Collections Librarian/Archivist: ylzakharova@elahomecollection.com; 301-687-4889.

Where to Print, Scan, and Fax 

Currently, black-and-white printing on campus at FSU is free. There are two Xerox printers on the Main Floor (3rd) of the Library, and three printers on the 2nd Floor of the Library. The printers are connected to banks of library computers for quick and easy printing while in the Library. The library printers cannot be connected to personal devices for printing. 

Scanners are available for use in the Library. There are two scanners located on the 2nd Floor near the current Periodicals display area. The scanners are connected to library computer work stations and are equipped to scan up to legal size items (8.5" x 14"). 

Fax services are not currently available at the Library. Faxing is available elsewhere on campus for a fee. For questions about faxing, please contact the Lane University Center Information Desk at 301.687.4411.

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