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Interlibrary Borrowing

MOBIUS Introduction

What is MOBIUS?

MOBIUS, also known as Missouri Bibliographic Information User System, is a consortium of academic libraries with membership that initially consisted of colleges and universities in the state of Missouri but has now expanded to include public libraries and libraries of various types from surrounding states. The largest single project for which MOBIUS is responsible is the MOBIUS Union Catalog. The Union Catalog creates a virtual collection of the more than 29 million items contained in the libraries of MOBIUS member institutions and creates a single user interface that allows faculty and students to request library materials using any personal computer in any location with access to the Internet. A courier service delivers library materials to member libraries once per day, 5 days per week.

View a full list of MOBIUS member libraries

MOBIUS is divided into clusters of libraries that share a common database. These clusters are generally organized according to geographic proximity. Evangel University/AGTS is a member of the SWAN cluster (Southwest Academic Network). In addition to the Evangel libraries, this cluster includes the libraries of the following institutions: Cottey College, Crowder College, Drury University, Missouri Southern State University, Ozark Christian College, Ozarks Technical Community College, Southwest Baptist University.

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What Does All of This Mean for Me?

The Evangel University libraries share a common online catalog with all of the other SWAN libraries. This means that you can easily switch back and forth through the various library collections when you are searching this online catalog. You can also search all of the collections simultaneously. However, this also means that you may want to pay close attention to which specific library you are searching.

In addition to the common SWAN online catalog, you can also search the MOBIUS Union Catalog online. This catalog includes the holdings of every MOBIUS library in the state, including the holdings of all the SWAN libraries.

AGTS students, faculty, and staff members can also borrow books from SWAN and other MOBIUS libraries (including other Evangel University library locations) using one of the following methods:

  1. Place requests through the SWAN catalog for books from any of the SWAN libraries.  When these requests are filled by other SWAN libraries, the books will be sent by courier service to the EU library and you will be able to pick them up from the library Circulation Desk you specified in your request.  You can return these books to one of the EU libraries and EU will ship them back to the lending libraries.
  2. Place requests through the MOBIUS Union Catalog for books from all MOBIUS libraries.  When these requests are filled, the books will be sent by the same courier service to the EU library and you will be able to pick them up from the library Circulation Desk you specified in your request.  You can return these books to one of the EU libraries and EU will ship them back to the lending libraries.
  3. Visit one of the SWAN or MOBIUS libraries in person and check out books at that location. (However, MOBIUS recommends that you use the online catalogs as much as is reasonably possible.) You can also return these books to one of the EU libraries and EU will ship them back to the lending library.

You can also request photocopies of journal articles from other SWAN and MOBIUS libraries through the same process as you would for OCLC Interlibrary Loan.

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Placing MOBIUS Book Requests

In the EU/SWAN Catalog

To place a hold on checked out EU or AGTS books or to place a request for a book available at a SWAN library:

  1. Click on the "Request" option, either in the results list or from an open bibliographic record.
  2. A Request page will open.  Enter the following information in the spaces provided:
    1. Name
    2. Library ID. In order to access your Patron Record, you will need to enter in your unique library ID.  For students, this will be your Evangel student number (the number that appears in your student card's barcode), followed by the letters "EU" (all caps).
    3. Password.  If you have not already created a password, you can do so by entering in a sequence of letters/numbers and clicking on "Submit."  You will be responsible for creating and remembering your own password.  If you forget your password you can create a new one by selecting the "Forget your password?" option or contact the library's Circulation Desk for help.
    4. Select a "Pickup Location." A drop-down list is provided.  You will want to select "Evangel University" or "Assemblies of God Theological Seminary."
    5. Enter a "Cancel if not "Filled by date.
    6. Click "Submit."
  3. For Requests for EU/AGTS Books by Distance/Doctoral Students: Library staff will retrieve the book (if currently available on the shelf) and check it out to your account.  They will then make sure that the book is shipped to your home address.
  4. For Requests for Books from other SWAN libraries: Once a request is filled by a SWAN Library, the book will be sent by the MOBIUS Delivery System to the EU Library. Once the book arrives, it will be placed on the hold shelf at the Circulation Desk that you specified in your request and a pickup notice will be emailed or mailed to you.  It is your responsibility to pick items up from the Circulation Desk.
  5. For Holds placed on currently checked out EU/AGTS Books: The library staff will contact you by phone or email when the book is returned.  Unless you are a distance/doctoral student, you will have a couple of days to pick up the book before it is reshelved into the collection.

 

In the MOBIUS Catalog

To place a request for a book from other MOBIUS libraries throughout the state:

  1. Click on the "Request it" option, either in the results list or from an open bibliographic record.
  2. You will be prompted to select your cluster. Be sure to select "SWAN."
  3. A Request page will open.  Enter the required information in the spaces provided:
    1. Name
    2. ID. In order to access your Patron Record, you will need to enter in your unique library ID.  For students, this will be your Evangel student number (the number that appears in your student card's barcode), followed by the letters "EU" (all caps).
    3. Select Your "Pickup Cluster."  Again, you will want to select “SWAN” from the dropdown list.
    4. Select a "Pickup Location." A drop-down list is provided.  You will want to select "Evangel University" or "Assemblies of God, Library" (AGTS).
    5. Click "Submit."

Once a request is filled by a MOBIUS Library, the book will be sent by the MOBIUS Delivery System to the EU Library. Once the book arrives, it will be placed on the hold shelf at the Circulation Desk that you specified in your request and a pickup notice will be emailed or mailed to you.  It is your responsibility to pick items up from the Circulation Desk.

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