Borrowing materials
Find how to get books, equipment, and other materials, how long you can keep them, and where to return them when you're done.
Borrowing information
There is no limit on the number of items that current University of Minnesota students and employees can check out with their U Card.
See borrowing privileges for more details.
Loan and renewal periods
Materials renew automatically, until they reach a maximum renewal period (see tables below). Users can also renew their materials manually through My Account, on the menu at the top of the page.
Long-term loans
Most of our materials are classified as long-term loans. The initial loan period and maximum renewal period for long-term loans depends on the borrower type and the owning campus of the item.
| Borrower type | Initial loan period | Automatic maximum renewal period |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate student | 13 weeks | 6 months |
| Graduate student | 13 weeks | 1 year |
| Employee: Twin Cities or Duluth item | 13 weeks | Unlimited |
| Employee: Morris or Crookston item | 13 weeks | 2 years |
| Friends of the Libraries or Special Privileges | 6 weeks | 3 months |
Shorter loans
Shorter loan periods apply to certain material types and collections—including, but not limited to
- periodicals,
- DVDs,
- maps,
- equipment,
- reference materials, and
- popular reading collections.
| Loan period | Maximum renewal period |
|---|---|
| 3 hours | No renewals |
| 1 day | 3 days |
| 3 days | 6 days |
| 1 week | 3 weeks |
| 2 weeks | 6 weeks |
| 4 weeks | 12 weeks |
Get It book delivery
Get It delivers loanable library materials to your choice of campus library location, campus office, or home. Available to current students, staff, and faculty.
Place a request
Search for an item, sign in to view full records, and click Get It to have an item routed or mailed to you.
Turnaround time
- Library pick up: Allow up to 3 to 5 business days to route materials. Items often arrive within 24 hours.
- Office delivery: Allow 5 to 7 business days for delivery.
- Home delivery: Allow 5 to 10 business days for delivery.
Contact us if you have not received a delivery request within 14 days.
Contact
Request help or ask questions about Get It materials and delivery at getit@umn.edu.
Interlibrary Loan
Interlibrary Loan offers access to materials currently unavailable within the University of Minnesota Libraries, as well as digital copies of articles and book chapters from our print and microform collections.
Returning materials
Book drop locations
Return your checked out University of Minnesota Libraries and Interlibrary Loan (ILL) materials to any of our open locations or return materials at any time to exterior book returns at
- Wilson Library, book return is to the left of the front entrance,
- Walter Library, book return faces Pleasant Street, in the loading dock,
- Magrath Library, book return faces Buford Ave, or
- Natural Resources Library, book return faces Upper Buford Circle.
Other return options
Faculty and staff can return items through Campus Mail, if their department is being served by Campus Mail.
UMN System (Crookston, Duluth, Morris) campuses also accept returns of UMN Twin Cities library materials.
Return materials via mail at your own expense to:
Wilson Library Circulation
309 19th Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Media equipment and laptops
Return media equipment to the library service desk where it was borrowed. Return CFANS/CBS laptops to Magrath Library.
Contact
Email us with any questions, or if you live outside of the seven-county Twin Cities metro area and can only return library materials by mail.
- University Libraries items: libnotic@umn.edu
- ILL items: wilsill@umn.edu
- Tutoring and Academic Success Center equipment: success@umn.edu
- CFANS/CBS laptops: magrath@umn.edu
Accessibility details
If you are experiencing a mobility disability, you can
- identify another person to pick up materials on your behalf using the proxy service,
- request delivery to your home or campus office, or
- request specific chapters or articles for Digital Delivery.
Staff at the information desks can assist in finding and retrieving materials upon request. Requests may take up to two business days to fulfill.
Contact
If the item is in an inaccessible format, contact lib-accessibility@umn.edu to check if an accessible version exists in Hathitrust or send a request to the Disability Resource Center (DRC).
Software
The vendor for Libraries search is actively working with an accessibility consultant service to improve its product. If you experience an accessibility issue, contact lib-accessibility@umn.edu with details (such as browser, operating system, assistive technology used) and we will file a report with the vendor.
Spaces
Many library spaces predate ADA requirements. Bookshelves may be too close together or extend too high for some people to access. When placing a Get It request, these materials are relocated to the main information desk near library entrances, which have more space, and staff hand you the materials directly.