Primo VE Help: Getting Started

What is Primo VE?

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Primo VE is a new platform for searching all library resources at once: books, ebooks, articles, journals, databases, course reserves, OhioLINK, library research guides, Columbus State research, Columbus State OER (Open Education Resources), Columbus State Digital Archives, and beyond.

How To Find Primo VE

There are several ways to get to use Primo VE.

  1. Performing a search on the Library Homepage takes you directly into our Primo VE platform. 
  2. Using the Books & Articles Menu in the top menu bar of the Library website and choosing one of the Books & More options will take you to specific searches on the Primo VE platform. Note: The Databases & Print Journals links will take you to other pages of the Library website. 
  3. Or you can go directly to this Primo VE link and begin your search.

More Information

Why Use Primo VE

Primo VE is your one stop shop for searching most of Columbus State Library's resources all in one place. Depending on the search you choose, you can search library books, ebooks, online articles, and even resources across the state, all in one search. You can also request materials from other libraries without even leaving the page. Primo VE allows you to save searches and search results to your library account, and track all your loans and requests all in one place.

What Does Primo VE Search

There are a lot of search options in Primo VE. Here is what they all mean:

  • Search Everything - physical and online items in our library and databases.
  • Databases - all the ebooks, videos, journals, and articles that you have access to as a member of the Columbus State community through our database subscriptions.
  • Library Catalog - all the books, videos, magazines, newspapers, and journals that are in the physical library buildings both here and at Delaware, as well as some individual ebooks and online videos.
  • OhioLINK - search items owned by academic libraries across the state.
  • Course Reserves - many courses keep books on reserve at the circulation desk, both in Columbus and in Delaware - you can search them by course number, title, or author.
  • Institutional Repository - This is where members of the Columbus State community can share open access research papers, conference presentations, Open Education Resources, and other resources about and by Columbus State.
  • Digital Archives - You can search for digitized materials from the Columbus State Archives including photographs from the early history of the college and even Oral Histories from some current and former staff, students, and faculty.
  • Research Guides - the library creates guides for every department, many classes, as well as general academic research assistance, this also includes the Composition Reading Bank. You can search by course title or department to find these.
  • Beyond My Library - includes results from databases, OhioLINK, and beyond. Items may require interlibrary loan.