Access Services

18111 Nordhoff St.
Northridge, CA 91330-8327

Access Services includes Circulation, Course Reserves and Curricular Resources (CR/CR), Teacher Curriculum Center / Music & Media (TCC/M&M), and the Map Collection. Together, these units connect users with the University Library’s collections, course materials, and specialized resources in support of teaching, learning, and research.

Circulation

Circulation includes the Guest Services desk, Interlibrary Loan, AS/RS, and Shelving.

The Guest Services desk is located on the main floor at the entrance of the library. Services provided include circulating/checking out a variety of materials including: books, Course Reserves, items in the AS/RS, Device Loaner Program (DLP) equipment (laptops, tablets, hot spots), Group/Grad/Assistive Technology Rooms, etc.; resolving library user account issues; and ensures library rules and policies are followed.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service enables students, faculty, and staff to obtain materials from other libraries that are not available in the University Library. ILL resources may be found through the other CSU libraries or through a large number of reciprocal libraries.

The Automated Storage and Retrieval System (AS/RS) is a unique feature of the library and was the first ever system designed and implemented for libraries. The AS/RS consists of over 13,000 bins of varying heights in an 8, 000 square feet room that is 40 feet high. The AS/RS has an estimated capacity of 1.2 million items. Retrieval requests are submitted via OneSearch and the system automatically pulls the bin that has the material stored in it for an employee to pull and make available at the Guest Services desk for the user. Time from initial request to availability at the Guest Services desk is under ten minutes.

Shelving ensures materials are accurately and efficiently returned to their correct locations. Shelving is responsible for shelf maintenance which includes shifting materials as needed as well as for large projects. Shelving also processes user OneSearch requests from the general collection and makes the material available for user checkout at the Guest Services desk or outside lockers.

Course Reserves and Curricular Resources (CR/CR)

Course Reserves & Curricular Resources (CR/CR) oversees course materials, such as, but not limited to, textbooks, required and suggested readings, kits, skeleton models, and other items used by students for their classes. Instructors may contact CR/CR to initiate course reserve requests, which may include course book purchases, personal copies provided by instructors, streaming video requests, existing books within the main collection, and any other materials related to student coursework.

CR/CR provides a scanning service for instructors to have portions of materials in compliance with copyright fair use scanned to PDF for placement in their course Canvas page. CR/CR also accommodates students with accessibility needs with reading materials from the library database and/or catalog.

CR/CR is located on the fourth floor, room UL 449, in the Quiet Study Lounge. Consultation with staff by appointment only.

Teacher Curriculum Center / Music & Media

The  Teacher Curriculum Center (TCC) and Music & Media, are located within the second floor, east wing of the library.

The TCC contains materials to support pre-K through 12th grade teaching such as: California state-adopted textbooks, curriculum guides, books for teaching strategies and creative lesson design, educational kits and games, and big books for storytime sessions; along with curating a collection of fiction and non-fiction written for elementary, middle grade, and young adult audiences.

Music & Media supports the music, cinema and theatre curricula at CSUN. The physical collection includes music books and scores, DVDs and Blu Rays, CDs, and LPs. Most of the collection is available for checkout and user can view or listen to all audiovisual materials in the area's media carrels. The library also subscribes to streaming videos and databases that provide onsite and remote access to e-books, scores, music and videos.

Map Collection

The University Library Map Collection holds a research-level collection of approximately 400,000 historical and government maps, aerial photographs, atlases and geospatial data that support student and faculty researchers and the general public. The Map Collection is a comprehensive service point whose staff provides subject expertise in cartographic resources, general and complex reference services, and duplication services. The Map Collection Reading Room (UL 26), accessible from the main floor staircase or elevator in the Learning Commons, is an open study space available to all users and includes a scholarly collection of books and atlases available for browsing.