This page contains information on tracking the status of your library materials, how and where you can pick them up, and how to renew and return your loans.

Haven’t submitted a requested yet? Read more about how to find and borrow materials.

Don't have an active J-Card? Not currently a JHU student, faculty, or staff member? Visit our Community Access page. 

Have questions? Email us at circmail@jhu.libanswers.com.

Where’s my request?

Requests for items at the Sheridan Libraries typically take 1-3 business days to arrive at their pick up locations. Please note that requesting Campus Delivery or Interlibrary Loan (including BorrowDirect) will increase turn around time.

To review the status of a book you’ve requested from the Sheridan libraries, perform the following steps:

1. Log in to your account on Catalyst.
2. This will load My Account page:
   
3. The second column displays your outstanding requests. These are requests that library staff are currently searching for OR are in route to their pick up destination. For more details about your request, click on the request in question:
   
   
   

If you can't find the information you're looking for here, try the next step or email us at circmail@jhu.libanswers.com for assistance.

Don’t see your request in Catalyst? Check your Interlibrary Loan account

Items requested via BorrowDirect or Interlibrary loan may not appear on your Account page in Catalyst immediately. You can review their status by following the steps below:

1. Log into the Interlibrary Loan page with your JHED
2. Click on the Request History drop down and select All Requests:
   
3. This page will list all requests you’ve made through the interlibrary loan form (including BorrowDirect requests)
   
4. For detailed information, click on the Details button:
   
5. Scroll to the bottom of the page to the Tracking section to see the details of your request 

Can’t find the information you’re looking for? Email us at circmail@jhu.libanswers.com.

Book pick up

The Eisenhower Library book pickup shelf is the default pick up location for library users registered on Homewood campus.

• You will receive an email alert when your request has been located and loaned to your account. It can take up to 1 hour after this email for your request to move from the check out point to the pick up shelf.
• You have 10 days to retrieve your requests after the first email alert. Email reminders are sent 5 days before uncollected requests are returned.
• Need us to hold onto your request longer? Just let us know!
• Books are sorted alphabetically by last name.

I want to pick up my book somewhere else

Please allow an additional 1-2 business days if you request pick up at a library other than Milton S. Eisenhower.

When requesting an item, you will be asked to select a location for pick up:

Milton S. Eisenhower Library is the default pick up location for Homewood patrons.

Those eligible for Campus Delivery must first select Milton S. Eisenhower Library as their pick up location in order to generate the Office Delivery option:

Note, this checkbox only appears for patrons eligible for Campus Delivery.

Other pick up options:

• William H. Welch Medical Library: 1900 E. Monument Street
• Arthur Friedheim Library: 21 E Mt Vernon Pl, Austrian Hall, Plaza Level
• Irene and Richard Frary Library, DC: 555 Pennsylvania Ave NW

In Library Use and Microfilm

If your email alert states that your requested item is “In Library Use Only” or “Microfilm," library staff must assist to access these types of items. Please confirm that the Milton S. Eisenhower Service Desk is open before you visit.

In Library Use Only means that the item cannot leave the library. This is usually because it’s too fragile, rare, or expensive to allow the material to leave the library.

• In Library Use Only materials are held at the Service Desk: let staff there know you are there to pick up an In Library Use Item and your name.
• Staff will hold your JCard at the Service Desk while you review your item. You are welcome to make copies and peruse anywhere within the library. Your JCard will be returned to you upon return of the In Library Use Only item.

Microfilm or microfiche are scaled-down reproductions of documents. These materials may be rare or fragile. 

• You can view and digitize these using our microfilm/fiche readers in the library. These readers require you to schedule a microfilm/fiche appointment to access. Staff will be available to assist you with setting up the microfilm readers.

When you are done reviewing your loan, please return it to the Service Desk and inform staff that you:

• No longer require it and it can be returned or...
• Still require the item, and would like to keep it behind the Service Desk longer

Have questions? Email us at circmail@jhu.libanswers.com.

Renewing loans

Book due soon? Need to keep it longer? Review the steps below to request a renewal.

Please note, BorrowDirect books are not eligible for renewals. They must be returned on or before their due date. If you need the book longer, please submit a new request via the Interlibrary Loan form to replace the copy that is due.

How to renew JHU materials:

1. Log in to your account on Catalyst.
2. This will load My Account page:
   
3. Click the ‘Loans’ tab at the top of the page
   
4. You can renew individual items by clicking on the Renew link on the right side of the row – OR you can Renew ALL eligible loans by clicking Renew All at the top right of the page:
   
5. If ‘Renew’ is grayed out, this means that this title is not eligible for renewal.
   

Questions? Email us at circmail@jhu.libanswers.com.

Don’t see the item you want to renew? Check your Interlibrary Loans

• Interlibrary Loans (ILLs) are only listed on the ILL webpage.
• Renewals of ILLs are at the discretion of the lending library. Many lending libraries are generous with renewals, but each library has its own policy regarding how many renewals they will grant. 
• If a renewal is denied, we must honor the original due date. If you believe you’ll need your ILL longer, please submit a new loan request via the Interlibrary Loan form to replace the copy that is due.

To request ILL renewal:

1. Log in to the ILL page with your JHED 
2. Click on the Request History drop down and click All Requests:
   
3. Find the item you’d like to renew. Click the Actions drop down and click Renew:
   

Your renewal request has now been submitted to the lending library. It can take between 1-5 business days for most lending libraries to respond to a renewal request. We will notify you with their decision as soon as we receive it.

Have ILL questions? Email ill@jhu.edu.

Returning your library materials

Homewood campus has four locations where you can return library materials. You will receive a confirmation email once your book has been checked in. Books returned to Homewood book drop boxes may take 1-2 business days to update as returned on your account. 

MSE Library Annex

• Big blue box, located in the parking lot, next to the path up to the library entrance from Bowman Drive. Outdoors, available 24 hours.
• Beige, small drop box inside the main entrance near the Service Desk. Available any time the MSE Library Annex building is open.

Brody Learning Commons

• A small, beige drop box just inside the doors of the main entrance, near the cafe. Available any time Brody is open.

Hutzler Reading Room in Gilman Hall

• Large, wooden drop box just inside the center study area to the right of the entrance. Available any time the Gilman and the Hutzler Reading Room are open.

You can also return materials at other Hopkins Libraries

Books dropped off at the following locations may take 4-5 business days to process as returned.

• Arthur Friedheim Library
• Welch Library
• Irene and Richard Frary Library

Questions? Email us at circmail@jhu.libanswers.com.