Questions?

The user name and password needed are also posted D2L. Look for the Library section. Otherwise, you can stop by the desk or give the library a call. We will confirm that you are a student before providing the necessary login.

Because the majority of our services and resources are available online, the library never really closes! However. Below are the hours during which you can print, use a study room, check out a book or ask for assistance from the library staff. Call (515) 643-6613 to confirm hours during breaks, holidays, and inclement weather.

Regular Hours

• Monday – Thursday 7:30 am - 9 pm
• Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5 pm
• Saturday 10 am - 2 pm
• Sunday 5 pm - 9 pm

Break Hours

• Monday – Friday 8 am - 4 pm
• Closed Saturday & Sunday

Wireless Internet is available in the library and throughout the Mercy College campus. It permits guest access to the Internet but not to the network drives or printers. Wireless laptops are available for checkout to use in the library.

We have four study rooms in the library. Each is equipped with a white board and a VCR/DVD player. The two on the west side are “first-come, first-served," and the two east side rooms have sign-up sheets on the door. There is a 3-hour-per-day limit on the study rooms. Groups and students wishing to view a video or DVD have preference.

Yes, you can use nearly all of the databases from home. The login process is the same, whether you are on or off campus.

• Books – 14 days
• Journals – 7 days
• Videos/DVDs – 7 days (although some may only be checked out by faculty)
• Popular Reading Collection – 4 weeks
• Renewals allowed - 2

Yes, we are open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We participate in Iowa's Open Access program, which allows the public to check out materials with a picture ID and a library card from a public library in Iowa. The printers/copy machines are not available for public use.

There are electrical outlets next to the study carrels on the north side of the library. For safety reasons we ask users to limit use of power cords to the study rooms, the study carrels, and the tables equipped with outlets.

To obtain “physical books” that the MCHS Library has in the collection, please check the catalog to ensure we hold the book. Then email your book request to library@mchs.edu.

• Identify each book title, authors, call number, and date.
• Be sure to include your name, mailing address, and contact information.
• Limit your request to 3 items.
• Books will be sent via USPS the next business day.
• You will be responsible for mailing items back within 30 days.

To obtain articles from the library’s “paper collection,” email your request to library@mchs.edu.

• Identify each article’s title, authors, journal name, volume, issue, page numbers, publication date: whatever information you can find
• Include your email address.
• Limit your request to 3 articles.
• Articles will be emailed the next business day.

First, make sure that Mercy College Library does not own the item by searching the Current Journal List  or the Mercy College Library Catalog (for books). If the Library does not own it, use the link above to send the request.

You cannot request items that Mercy College owns, but are on reserve. You cannot request textbooks.  Some items, such as movies, music, recently-published books, bestsellers, and rare materials can be difficult to obtain as many libraries do not lend them to other libraries.

Articles and electronic documents typically arrive in less than 5 days. Hard copy items (primarily books) typically arrive within 10 days. Items that are difficult to obtain may take longer. You will receive an email or a call from the library informing you that your items are ready to be picked up.  Electronic documents are delivered directly to you via a link in an email.

There is no charge for most loans.  If we are not able to borrow an item free of charge, we will contact you for your approval before committing to pay for any item.  Mercy College will not cover the cost for the loan itself.  

We have many, but are not able to purchase every textbook. Textbooks are placed on reserve and must be used in the library. Ask for them at the library's main desk.

Students may have 5 active requests at a time. A request is active from the time you submit it until it is returned to the lending library (for hard copy items) or delivered to your email (for PDFs). Currently, there is no "lifetime limit" on the number of  requests for faculty and staff.

Contact the college's Technology Specialist at (515) 643-6704 (cell: 515-473-8158) or email it@mchs.edu

Please silence your phone before entering the library, and make any phone calls in the hallway outside the library.

You may request a renewal by emailing us at library@mchs.edu. The decision about whether items can be renewed is made by the lending library.

Current Mercy College students, faculty, and staff may use the request form.

Yes. Just take your empty containers and wrappers with you and keep the food and drinks away from the computers.