General Frequently Asked Questions
Who can use the Libraries?
Anyone can use the University Libraries. Feel free to come in and ask questions, use the computers, do research or read. If you are a citizen of the State of Indiana eighteen years of age or older, you may borrow material from the libraries subject to the University Libraries' circulation policies.
Some services are limited to Ball State University students, faculty and staff. Interlibrary Loan is an example of a limited service. Ask at the nearest service desk or call the Reference Desk at 765-285-1101 if you have any questions about library services.
How do I get a library card?
If you are a Ball State student, staff, faculty member, your Ball State University identification card is all that you need to check out material from any of the University Libraries. If you are a resident of the State of Indiana over eighteen years of age, you should bring identification that includes a photo and date of birth to the Circulation/Reserves counter in Bracken Library. Acceptable forms of identification include an Indiana driver's license or United States passport. A Resident/Affiliate Card will be issued to you for $1 (to cover the cost of the card) and may be used only by the cardholder in conjunction with a picture ID. Should you lose your card, a replacement will be issued to you for $1.
How can I find my way around Bracken Library?
Use the library floorplans to locate service areas, collections, and restrooms in Bracken Library. To find the location of a book, please use the book location chart.
Do the Libraries have a typewriter that I can use?
The Educational Resources Collection has one typewriter available for public use, in the Opaque Projector room (between the two restrooms).
Are there lockers in the Libraries?
Bracken Library has 24 rental lockers conveniently located on the southwest side of the first floor. The lockers are subject to "first come, first serve" availability, and cost 25 cents to rent for the day. Guidelines for locker use are posted at their location.
Can I page someone in the Libraries?
Paging is not possible in any of the libraries. In case of an emergency, the University Police may be able to provide assistance and can be reached at 765-285-1111.
Where is the lost and found area in the Libraries?
If you have lost something recently, check in the area where you may have lost the item as well as the closest service desk.
In Bracken Library, all found items are sent to the Main Circulation Desk (765-285-5143). Items of value (flash drives, wallets, IDs, cell phones, computers, etc.) are then sent directly up to the Dean's Office, BL 218 (765-285-5277) during business hours.
Other items not claimed from the lost and found in Bracken Library are collected approximately once a semester and transferred to the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) Service Fraternity on the first floor of the Student Center SC 144. Their office hours are Monday – Friday, 12:00pm – 5:00pm.
Valuable items found in the Science-Health Science Library and the Architecture Library are sent to the Dean's Office (BL 218) during office hours.
How can I donate something to the Libraries?
Please see Donating Materials to the University Libraries for more information about donating items to the Libraries, and Giving to the Libraries for information about financial gifts to the Libraries.
Do you have any office supplies such as rubber bands, blank CDs, file folders, etc. that I could have or buy?
The Libraries do not sell office supplies, though we do provide staplers at each printer. If you’ve forgotten a pen or pencil, some service points may have extras to lend you. The Ball State Bookstore located in the Arts and Journalism Building just across from Bracken Library does sell a variety of office supplies.
Is there a place in the Libraries where I can buy refreshments?
The Bookmark Café at Bracken Library is located on the first floor of Bracken, near the Main Circulation Desk. The café offers a variety of coffee, tea, hot cocoa, soft drinks, milk, breakfast items, and sandwiches, salads, and soups. As a convenience to students, their meal cards, cash, and CardinalCash plans can be used to purchase beverages, food, and other goodies.
There is also a vending area with tables and a microwave on the lower level of Bracken Library, near the Music Listening Center. A variety of snack and beverage items may be purchased there. This area is available any hour Bracken Library is open.
Where can I get change for dollar bills?
In Bracken Library, there are three machines which provide change on First Floor East: One is located by the microform machines, and provides all dimes for either $1 bills or $5 bills.
The other change machines are closer to the lobby, near the Bestsellers Collection.
One of these machines provides mixed change for $1 bills (8 dimes and 4 nickels). It also provide change for a quarter (2 dimes and 1 nickel).
The other change machine near the lobby provides all $1 bills for $5, $10, and $20 bills.
There are no change machines at the Architecture and Science-Health Science Libraries. However, the vend units at the copy machines take $1 and $5 bills.