Photo of Annex Facade

Library Annex Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How fast can I get a book or journal from the Annex?
Library Annex items will normally be available for pick-up within 24 hours (Monday through Friday) of placing the request. Materials requested before 11:00 a.m.,  Monday through Friday will be available at the Circulation Department by 3:00 p.m. of the same business day. Materials requested after 11:00 a.m. Monday through Friday, will be available at the Circulation Department on the following business day.

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Where can I have Library Annex materials delivered?
Most Library Annex materials will be delivered to the Circulation Department at Thomas Cooper library; however, there are exceptions. These exceptions include South Caroliniana Library and Law Library materials. Other items that are delivered to a location other than the Thomas Cooper Circulation Department are Special Collections, Map Library and Educational Film Collection. For additional information please visit the Library Annex Policies page.

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May I use materials onsite at the Annex building?
Yes. University of South Carolina affiliates such as; Faculty, Staff, Graduate or Undergraduate students, Thomas Cooper Society members, and Alumni members, who wish to consult large works may request items be held at one of the two Library Annex reading rooms. Users should call to reserve a room and must show a valid university photo ID upon arrival or proof of affiliation with the University.  It would be most efficient if a patron provides information for requested materials at least two hours prior to their arrival in order to have the materials ready for viewing. Please note that Library Annex materials cannot be checked out and must be used on-site.  For additional information please visit the Library Annex Policies page.

Non-university affiliates who wish to consult large works may also request items be held at one of the two Library Annex reading rooms.  However, please note that photocopy services are not available for non-university affiliates.

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Why is the Annex an off-site facility?
Overcrowded stacks make it difficult to locate library materials, jeopardize their condition, and takes up space originally intended for study and research.

The library Annex was developed for the University Libraries to house, preserve, and relieve the overcrowding of the book stacks while maintaining and providing access to library materials of research value. The Library Annex allows the University Libraries to improve the functionality of the University Libraries both in terms of research and study space. It also allows the University Libraries to maintain a current and efficient circulating collection. In addition, The Library Annex facility provides optimal environmental conditions for the materials it houses (it's kept at a constant 55 degrees and 50 percent relative humidity) therefore preserving and extending the material's life span.

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How many volumes will the Library Annex hold?
Depending on the size and type of materials selected for transfer, the Library Annex will hold up to 1.5 million items.

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What kinds of materials are shelved in the Library Annex?
Most media types of lower-use materials, old and/or fragile materials, archival materials, and materials available online are all good candidates for Library Annex relocation.

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Whom do I contact if I have additional questions, concerns, suggestions, or complaints about the Library Annex?
You may submit any questions, concerns, suggestions, or complaints on our Annex Feedback page. The Library Annex will reply to submissions within two (2) business days. Or you may contact the Library Annex Manager at nnirvera@mailbox.sc.edu

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Can Library Annex items be reinstated back to the library's general collection?
Faculty, Staff, and Students of the university may request that items housed at the Library Annex be recalled and returned to the library's general collection. The Collections Development Department will review each request in a case-by-case basis. If you have a question pertaining to the Thomas Cooper Collection, please contact Gary Geer at: geer@sc.edu For all other collections (South Caroliniana Library, Business Library, Law Library, Music Library, Special Collections Department, Map Library, etc…), please contact the reference department of the respective owning library.

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Is the Library Annex staffed?
Yes, there are 4 full-time staff members at the Library Annex during regular business hours. The Library Annex business hours are: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you need assistance after hours, please contact the Thomas Cooper Library Circulation Department at: 803-777-3145.

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How many books can I request from the Annex?
There is no limit to the number of items one may request from the Library Annex.

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Will someone contact me when my request is available?
For general collection items belonging to Thomas Cooper Library,  the Math Library or the Business Library an email will be sent by a Thomas Cooper Circulation staff when the item is placed on hold and ready for pick-up at the Circulation Department. For items belonging to the Music Library an e-mail will be sent by a Music Library staff. Other Libraries such as; Caroliniana Library and Law Library do not notify their patrons when the item is available for pick-up.

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What happens if there is a problem with my request?
The Library Annex staff will notify the patron via e-mail detailing the problem(s) with your request. If there is no valid email address, The Library annex staff will make every effort to contact the patron via the telephone. If we are unable to reach you via e-mail or at least leave a voice message and it has been more than three (3) business days since you have placed the request, please contact the Library annex at: 803-896-0780 or via e-mail at: tclannex@mailbox.sc.edu

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What is the most common problem the Library Annex encounters with a patron's request?
The Library annex will occasionally receive requests for materials that are not housed at the Library Annex. To avoid this problem, please consult the Library's online catalog to verify the location of the item in question before submitting your request. If you need assistance, please ask one of the reference librarians at the Reference Desk.

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How can I tell if an item is located at the Library Annex?
Materials stored at the Library Annex have the following location Columbia Annex in the University Libraries online catalog:
screenshot of an item in the catalog that belongs to the library annex

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Where can I return items borrowed from the Library Annex?
Materials borrowed from the Library Annex should be returned to the Thomas Cooper Library, Circulation Department or any of the library drop boxes through out campus. For more details please visit: http://www.sc.edu/library/pubserv/circ.html#Returning.  Please do not remove the Library Annex identification bands that are placed on all borrowed items.  We need them so that we can correctly identify Library Annex materials and process them accordingly.

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What is Electronic Desktop Delivery (EDD)?
Electronic Desktop Delivery service supplies articles or book chapters from the Library Annex collection directly to your desktop in PDF format, which can be read with Adobe's Acrobat Reader, available for free from Library Annex Policies page.

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Who can use the EDD service?
Anyone affiliated with the University (Faculty, Staff, Graduate or Undergraduate student, Thomas Cooper Society member, and Alumni member) or anyone with Library borrowing privileges.

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Is there a page limit per EDD request?
The Library Annex will process requests for articles or book chapters of forty (40) or fewer pages in length. All requests for articles in excess of forty (40) pages must be made for the entire volume, which will then be sent via courier to the Thomas Cooper Library and made available for pick-up at the Circulation Department. Please note: Federal Copyright Guidelines require that only one article or book chapter be requested per request.

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Is there a limit to how many EDD requests I can submit?
There is no limit to how many EDD requests a patron can submit.

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How many articles from one journal can I receive at one time?
There is no limit to the number of articles or book chapters a patron can request from one particular journal issue or book as long as it does not amount to the entire works. However, patrons may request the entire works be sent in its original form to Thomas Cooper Library for patron use.

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How long will it take to receive my document?
EDD requests will be delivered to the patrons e-mail within 2 business days of submitting the request.

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What's my password?
Details on how to log-on to view/download your article, including your password, will be provided in the EDD notification e-mail.

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What to do if I can't open my document?
You should contact the Library Annex at: 803-896-0780 or via e-mail at:tclannex@mailbox.sc.edu
Helpful hints:

  • Do not enter the brackets surrounding the PIN.
  • PIN is case sensitive. Type it in exactly as it appears in the e-mail.
  • Verify that you are entering the correct e-mail address at log-in.
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What to do if I delete my document before I use it?
You should contact the Library annex at: 803-896-0780 or via e-mail at:tclannex@mailbox.sc.edu and we can re-instate or rescan the article.

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How do I inform the Library Annex that I would like to receive the article electronically?
On the Journal Retrieval Request form, you should click on the box which appears to the left of the following statement:
Please check this box for Electronic Desktop Delivery. EDD requests will be delivered to the patron's email within 2 business days.

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