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The information and research source for Missouri state government employees

Policies

Who may borrow items?

Missouri State Library cardholders in good standing may borrow items from the Reference Services Division of the Missouri State Library. 

Public patrons may borrow items in person or via interlibrary loan at their local public library.

What items may be borrowed?

Items in the General, Missouriana, Training Media, Federal Documents, Missouri Documents, and MoDOT collections may be checked out by registered patrons in good standing.

Items in the Reference, MoDOT Reference, Missouri Libraries Historical Collection, Microforms, and Newspapers and Periodicals Collection may only be used in the library. A Reference librarian or the MoDOT librarian may make an exception to this policy. If an exception is made, the librarian will determine the loan period, usually 1-7 days.

Is there a limit on how many items may be checked out?

Yes, the limit is 12 at a time.

How long may items be checked out?

State Library books may be checked out for 28 days, with the option to renew. Media borrowed from MOBIUS partner libraries may be checked out for 10 days.

MOBIUS books will be checked out for 40 days, with no renewals. Effective November 1, 2024.

May items be renewed?

MOBIUS items are not eligible for renewals at this time.

State Library items may be renewed two times, unless items have been requested by another patron or the items have gone into billing status. Each renewal period for most items is 28 days.

Items borrowed through traditional interlibrary loan are subject to the due dates granted by the item's home library. 

Overdue items

It is the patron’s responsibility to return borrowed materials on or before the due date or to contact Reference Services at the Missouri State Library if unable to do so. Unless items are damaged, overdue fees will be waived when the items are returned. Please contact Reference Services if there is a problem returning items.

Overdue items will go into billing status if they are not returned promptly. Patrons with overdue items will not be able to request or check out materials until the account is cleared.