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Library Services for Alumni

OCOM Alumni are encouraged to continue to utilize the Library post-graduation. On this page, you’ll learn more about finding and accessing research, requesting articles using our Document Delivery for Alumni services (reserved for OCOM Alumni Association Members), and using the library.

Finding & Accessing Research

Finding Journal Articles

When looking at the list of library databases, any resource that does not have a lock icon next to the title is free to use (no login required). PubMed is the largest, most comprehensive of these databases (and also includes many journals that have free full-text access).

Pairing PubMed with our DDA service? You are a research boss. Document Delivery for Alumni allows you to request articles from OCOM’s Collection. The Library handles the details, and when the article is available, it is emailed directly to you.

Finding Books

You can still use Primo to find books after you graduate. OCOM Alumni do not lose their checkout privileges, so you can continue to use your library account to place holds on books, dvds and audio CDs. Additionally, you can use Primo to find journal citations (and occassionally full-text). Learn how to use Primo by viewing this guide.

Your local public library is a resource you shouldn’t overlook! Although OCOM will not ship books directly to you, if you request an OCOM books via your local public library’s Interlibrary Loan service, we will ship the book for free. We don’t ship to individuals, but we ship to institutions, so if you are far away from OCOM, just align yourself with your local library.

Additionally, you can use WorldCat to find books near you. WorldCat is a world-wide catalog that searches libraries across the globe — if you find an item you are interested in, you can enter your zip code to see if any libraries near you have a copy available.

Document Delivery for Alumni (DDA)

What is Document Delivery for Alumni?

OCOM Alumni Association members may request articles via the Document Delivery for Alumni (DDA) service. Alumni who qualify for this service may request up to six articles per month at no charge.

Please limit your requests to items that support your educational and scholarly needs. For recreational, non-scholarly needs, alumni in the Portland-Metro area are encouraged to utilize the Multnomah County Library. In addition to having a vast collection of both electronic and print resources, they also have an Interlibrary Loan service that Portland residents can take advantage of.

If you are not an OCOM Alumni Association member, visit the OCOM Alumni site to learn more and to sign up for a membership.

How much does it cost?

Nothing! This service is free to OCOM Alumni Association members.

How do I sign up & use the service?

In order to use this service, you must:

  1. Be a current OCOM Alumni Association Member;
  2. Have an alumni library account and library barcode number.

If you meet these requirements, you can use the Interlibrary Loan Request Form to request journal articles to be delivered to your email; no additional registration is required.

Can I request a book via DDA?

No. Borrowing books via interlibrary loan is a service reserved for current students, staff and faculty. If you find a resource that you’d like to use and you believe it would make a good addition to our collection, feel free to make a recommendation via the Suggest a Purchase form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still use the library after I graduate?

Yes! Alumni are encouraged to continue using the OCOM Library post-graduation. Alumni can check out up to five titles at a time from our library; reserve items and electronics are limited to current students and staff, but all other circulating material in OCOM’s collection may be borrowed. Alumni must also pay off any outstanding library fees before checking out new materials. If alumni have outstanding library fees or other OCOM-related fees, their account may be suspended.

In addition to continuing to check out materials from the OCOM Library, Alumni can use any of our subscription databases while on-campus; off-use access to subscription databases is limited to current students, staff and faculty.

Upon graduation, you will need to fill out an application for a new OCOM Alumni Library Account.

How do I access the library?

The OCOM Library is located on the main Old Town Campus, in the heart of Old Town / Chinatown in downtown Portland, Oregon. We are located at 75 NW Couch Street, Portland, OR 97209, on the third floor.

The Library is open to all alumni, but you must present your library card at the security desk in order to gain access; alumni who arrive without an OCOM badge or library card will need to wait in the lobby for verification before being granted access.

How do I get a library card?

If you have not already done so, you will need to submit an online application for an OCOM Alumni Library Account.

If you still have your school ID badge, that will continue to be your library card. If you do not have a badge, alumni may request a free library card by visiting us in person, or requesting that one be mailed to you ($5 shipping charge applies).

Can I use the library computers?

Yes, alumni may use the Library computers. Due to the limited number of computer stations, guest access is awarded at the discretion of Library staff. OCOM students have priority for computer use, and other users may be asked to give up their seats if students need to use a computer.

Alumni may print using the library photocopier or printers; the cost is $0.10 per page and is due before leaving the library. You will need to check in with library staff about getting a temporary print card, and you will need to pay for any print jobs before leaving the library.

Can I use the library databases?

Alumni are welcome to use library subscription databases while on-campus, though remote access to these databases are reserved to current students, staff and faculty. For alumni who cannot visit the OCOM Library and take advantage of the on-site databases, we recommend using Pubmed to search for journal articles, as it is free to the public.

Can you email me a journal article?

Alumni Association Members may request articles via the Document Delivery for Alumni (DDA) service. which allows you to request up to six articles per month. This service is free to paid members of OCOM’s Alumni Association at no charge.

Can I place a hold on a book from one of the PAHL libraries?

Unfortunately, no. This service is reserved for current students, staff and faculty (including teaching assistants).

I live out of state. Can you mail me a book?

The OCOM Library does not ship books directly to alumni, only to other libraries, so you will need to find a library close to you that provides interlibrary loan services. If you would like to check out items from OCOM Library but do not live in the Portland-metro area, you may place an interlibrary loan request with your local public library, making sure to note that OCOM carries the item you are looking for. We will then ship the item out for you to pick up at your local library. Most public libraries offer this service free of charge.  If you live near a school a school of acupuncture (or other medical field), check with them as they may have practitioner accounts available.

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