Guide to Chuo University Central Library

What is CHOIS
CHOIS is short for the Chuo Online Information System, which is the library system of the Chuo University Library. CHOIS enables you to search the books stored in the Chuo University Library, confirm the books you have borrowed and the state of your reservation, renew your loan, make reservations, etc.. Moreover, you can access the system from anywhere, and the system is available even on the days and during the hours the library is closed.

Borrowing procedures
If you want to borrow any item from the library, bring it to the service counter. You are required to have your student ID card or CHOIS user card with you at the counter.

Returning procedures
Make sure to return the borrowed item to the service counter at which you checked it out during the loan period. Please note that you will not be able to renew the loan period or borrow newly if you fail to return the borrowed item on or before the due date. Please use the book drop when the service counter is closed.

Renewal procedures (can be completed by accessing CHOIS)
Most items may be renewed one time only during the loan period as long as no other borrower has requested them. You can complete the required procedures at home if you are in an environment where you can access CHOIS on the Internet. The new due date is calculated from the day the renewal procedures are completed. Please note, however, that renewal may not be possible when any of the items you have borrowed from the library is overdue or for some other reason.

Reservation of items on loan (can be made by accessing CHOIS)
You can make reservations for items already out on loan. If you fail to make a reservation by accessing CHOIS, output the reading request form for the item you want to reserve and present it at the relevant service counter.

Copying
You may use the copier only for the books and materials in the library's collection and within the limitsapproval of the Copyright Law.

Study books, reference books, liberal arts books, and others are arranged on the shelves on the 4th floor. If the search results using CHOIS show that the stack location is 開架 (KAIKA: opened shelf), 開架大型 (KAIKAOGATA: opened shelf for big-size materials), 開架新書 (KAIKASHINSHO: opened shelf for new books), or 開架文庫(KAIKABUNKO: opened shelf for paperbacks), the item you are looking for is on one of the shelves on the 4th floor. You may pick it up and use it freely. Make sure to return it to its original location after use. Visit the service counter on the 4th floor or 2nd floor if you want to borrow or return open-stack books on the 4th floor.
You may borrow or renew open-stack books on the 4th floor using the automatic check-out machine on the 2nd floor.
You may borrow or return open-stack books on the 4th floor using the automatic check-out machine on the 2nd floor.
You are required to make a reservation to use the group studying room (Presentation room, Group performance room) for over four people.
Make request at the service counter on the 2nd floor for reservation of the group studying room.
The service counter on the 4th floor is open:
Monday-Friday 9:00～16:00　Saturday 9:00～12:00

On the 3rd floor, in addition to the ordinary reading rooms, there are a special reading room where you can use your own desktop calculator and/or PC and a group reading room where you can hold discussions, using library materials. You are required to make a reservation to use the group studying room (CITRAS, Groupe reading room) for over four people, but not for the other rooms. Make a request at the service counter on the 2nd floor for reservation of the group studying room.

The central stack room houses a total of about 1,220,000 volumes of national and international specialized books, journals, and others. If the search results using CHOIS show that the stack location is中央書庫 (CHUOSHOKO: the central stack room), 中央大型 CHUOOGATA: the central stack room's shelf for big-sized materials), 中央小型 CHUOKOGATA: the central stack room's shelf for small-sized materials), 中央和装 CHUOWASO: the central stack room's shelf for materials in Japanese-style binding.), the item you are looking for is in the central stack room. Undergraduate students are requested to output (or fill out) the "reading request form" and present it at the service counter on the 2nd floor.
The service counter on the 2nd floor is open:
Monday-Saturday　9:00～20:30

Entrance to the central stack room
Graduate students and faculty members are allowed to enter the central stack room. You are required to have your student ID card or CHOIS user card with you at the counter. Please note that undergraduate junior or senior students who wish to enter the central stack room for writing the graduation thesis are allowed to enter on certain conditions.

How to request books from other campus libraries (can be made by accessing CHOIS)
You can make reservations if you wish to use books stored in other campus libraries. If you fail to make a reservation by accessing CHOIS, output the reading request form for the item you want to reserve and present it at the service counter on the 2nd floor. Please note that in some cases the above inter-campus loan service is not available.

How to request books stored in the external depository
If the search results using CHOIS show that the stack location is 外保（GAIBUHOKAN: External bookshelf for storing books) , output the reading request form for the relevant item and present it at the service counter on the 2nd floor.

What is the reference service?
The reference service is assistance made available to library users for more effective use of the library. The staff will accept your questions and requests for consultation, introduce you to materials you need, or help you get the information you are looking for.

Reference counter
The following services are available at the reference counter. Do not hesitate to consult a staff to use the service.

1. Search for materials;
2. Search for specific matters;
3. Guidance on the use of other university libraries and affinity institutions;
4. Acceptance of requests for copies of documents stored in other university libraries;
5. Acceptance of requests for borrowing books from other university libraries (for in-library reading only);
6. Use of the database which is only available on dedicated terminal;
7. Use of the CD-ROM database search facility;
8. Guidance on how to use CHOIS and various databases;
9. Guidance on various reference books.

The reference counter is open:
Monday-Friday　10:00～11:30, 12:30～16:30
Saturday　10:00～11:30

Reference room
The reference room houses a variety of reference books that compactly and systematically contain information and data required for various activities such as studies and researches. Reference books include bibliographies useful in locating literature such as books and theses, indices, catalogues, and encyclopedias, subject-specific encyclopedias, and dictionaries that are useful in checking specific matters and words, and moreover, almanacs useful in finding out about topical subjects, past and the latest statistics, and government reports and white papers. Please make good use of them.

The reference room is open:
8：45～22：00