Using Your Missouri State Library Card
Finding books, videos and other materials
Search our catalog.
Searching the Missouri State Library's catalog
- Decide on a search. Keyword, Title and Author are the most popular, and can be used from the dropdown menu beside the search box as well as the Search Options box. The Journal, Magazine, and Newspaper search will show you print journals and magazines to which the State Library subscribes. Electronic journal subscriptions can be searched in the E-Journal Finder tool in our website.
- Enter your search terms in the box.
- After clicking Submit, you will see a list of titles. For example:
- Click a title that interests you to read more about it.
Requesting an item from the Missouri State Library
Once you have found a title you want, you may request that it be sent to your office.
- Click the Request link and fill in the form:
Note - You must enter the code letter ‘m’ after your library card number for the request to be processed correctly.
General Borrowing Information for the Missouri State Library
Loan Periods
- Most books are checked out for 30 days with two renewals possible.
Library Use Only
- Reference books, newspapers, periodicals, and clippings files may be used in the library only.
Borrowing limits
- The maximum number of books you can have checked out at one time is 25.
- The maximum number of government documents you can check out at one time is 10 federal and 10 state.
- The maximum number of audio-visual items you can have checked out at one time is 2.
Replacement cost
- Books borrowed from the Missouri State Library or any other Arthur library will have a minimum replacement fee of $70.
Can't find the book you need in the Missouri State Library catalog?
Search Arthur!
Arthur is a group of libraries in Mid-Missouri that share a catalog and books with each other.
Can't find the book you need in Arthur?
Search MOBIUS!
MOBIUS is group of libraries in Missouri that collaborate to share their circulating material. You may request a book through the MOBIUS catalog in the same way you would through the Missouri State Library catalog or Arthur catalog.
Pick Up Anywhere
State employees can pick up requested books at MOBIUS libraries throughout the state when they request items using the MOBIUS catalog. When requesting the book, simply choose the cluster and library you would like to use to pick up books.
Note: Jefferson City employees may retrieve books after work hours by choosing to pick up books at the Missouri River Regional Library. Simply choose MRRL as the pick-up cluster and specify the branch desired.
General Borrowing Information for MOBIUS
Loan Periods
- Most books are checked out for 21 days with two 21-day renewals
Borrowing limits
- Only books may be requested from the MOBIUS Libraries.
- The maximum number of books you can have checked out at one time is 25.
- The maximum number of government documents you can check out at one time is 10 federal and 10 state.
Replacement cost
- Books borrowed from the MOBIUS consortium have a minimum replacement fee of $120.
Still can't find what you need?
If you are trying to locate material and would like assistance, call us at (573) 751-3615 or email us.
If you know the title and author of the material you want, fill out an Interlibrary Loan request form, or you make a recommendation for purchasing the material.
Returning Books
Books must be returned directly to the library by interagency mail, in person via the drop box in the building’s circular drive or directly to our circulation/reference desk or shipped by UPS or USPS. If shipping, it is important to provide insurance for returned materials because that is the only way they can be tracked.
Managing Your Library Account Online
You can view what you have checked out and renew materials online. To view your account, click on “My Library Account” from the main screen of the catalog.
- Enter your name.
- Enter your ID number. (This will be your library card number followed by the letter m).
- Click Submit.
You can view and renew the items you currently have checked out directly from this page. You can also view requested items using the Requests (holds) link.
Additional Services:
The Missouri State Library has many services to offer. Keeping Up and Table of Contents are just a few of the other services we provide. Check out our range of services or call us at (573) 751-3615.