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Borrowing Options

University Faculty and Staff | Registered University Students | Unregistered University Students | Research Assistants | University Retirees

U of M Affiliated Borrowers

University Faculty and Staff

Current University faculty and staff are eligible for direct borrowing privileges by obtaining a University of Minnesota ID card (U Card.) The U Card Office can be contacted at 612/626-9900.



Faculty and Staff privileges include:
  • 13-week loan period
  • 350 item check-out limit
  • Unlimited renewals up to five years loan
  • Recall privileges
  • Interlibrary Loan privileges
  • Get It privileges
  • Full access to databases, indexes, full-text, and other digital resources on- and off-campus
  • Reference assistance in person and online

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Registered University Students

Current University students are eligible for direct borrowing privileges by obtaining a University of Minnesota ID card (U Card.) The U Card Office can be contacted at 612/626-9900.

Student privileges include:  
  • 13-week loan period for graduate students
  • 6-week loan period for undergraduates
  • 350 item check-out limit
  • Unlimited renewals up to 1 year for graduate students
  • Unlimited renewals up to 6 months for undergraduates
  • Recall privileges
  • Interlibrary Loan privileges
  • Full access to databases, indexes, full-text, and other digital resources on- and off-campus
  • Reference assistance in person and online

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Unregistered University Students

  1. Graduate students who are not currently registered, but are still working toward their Master’s or Doctoral degree may obtain borrowing privileges by registering for the zero-credit, zero-fee, non-graded registration option (GRAD 999) offered through the Graduate School. Once registered, a graduate student’s University accounts will be reactivated.

All other graduate students, who are not eligible to register for GRAD 999, can complete an “Unregistered Graduates” application. The application can be obtained at the Borrowing Privileges desk at 110 Wilson Library, or downloaded online.

  1. Undergraduate students who are not currently registered, but are completing research/honors projects may obtain borrowing privileges by completing an “Unregistered Undergraduates” application. The application can be obtained at the Borrowing Privileges desk at 110 Wilson Library, or downloaded online.

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Research Assistants


Individuals that are working with a University of Minnesota Faculty member as a research assistant may obtain a "proxy card." Applications for proxy cards can be obtained at the Borrowing Privileges desk at 110 Wilson Library, or downloaded online. Completed applications must be signed and dated by the faculty member requesting the proxy card

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University Retirees
University retirees including faculty, academics and staff are eligible for direct borrowing privileges by obtaining a University of Minnesota ID card (U Card.) The U Card Office can be contacted at 612/626-9900. Retirees have access to the same services, collections, and privileges as those who are currently employed. If you have questions about your status as retired, contact your department or college.

Retiree privileges include:

 

Additional questions regarding borrowing privileges at the University of Minnesota Libraries can be directed to the Borrowing Privileges & Fines office at (612) 624-3383.

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Unaffiliated Borrowing Options

Friends of the Library | Special Borrowing Privileges | Law Firms, Attorneys, & Law Students | Interlibrary Loan via Public Library | Fee Based Services

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Users not affiliated with the University may obtain a borrower's card in one of the following ways:

  1. Join the Friends of the Library
    Membership includes limited borrowing privileges at all campus libraries as well as the opportunity to help support and develop the library collections through your membership fee. Annual memberships may vary, but individuals may obtain borrowing privileges with a contribution of $80 or more. *Minnesota Alumni Association members may obtain borrowing privileges at a discounted rate of $40 or more by showing their current alumni membership card. Organizations may obtain borrowing privileges with a contribution of $250 or more. *Non-Profit Organizations may obtain borrowing privileges at a discounted rate of $80. Friends of the Library applications can be picked up at the Borrowing Privileges & Fines desk at 110 Wilson Library or downloaded online.


    Individual privileges include:
    Organizational privileges include:
    • 6-week loan period
    • 2 renewals
    • 25 item check-out limit
    • Recall/hold privileges
    • 6-week loan period
    • 2 renewals
    • 25 item check-out limit
    • Recall/hold privileges

    * Interlibrary Loan privileges, and remote access are not included with membership.


    Questions regarding Friends of the Library memberships may be directed to Lanaya Stangret at 612-624-9339.

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  2. Qualify for Special Borrowing Privileges
    Borrowing Privileges may be obtained if a member of one of the following categories. Required documentation must be provided to receive privileges. Special Borrower's applications can be picked up at the Borrowing Privileges & Fines desk at 110 Wilson Library, or downloaded online. Faculty at local seminaries may check this link to see more information about reciprocal borrowing privileges: http://wilson.lib.umn.edu/reference/reli-mtla.html.

    Eligible Special Borrowers
    Required Documentation
    Faculty of other accredited institutions of higher education Copy of appointment letter or contract for the current academic year.

    Graduate students of other accredited institutions the are NOT members of the MINITEX or CLIC library networks

    Copy of fee statement or course registration for the current academic term.

    Minnesota State University students
    * Includes students attending Bemidji, Mankato, Metro State, Moorehead and St Cloud State Schools.

    Referral form available from applicant's home library.

    Government Agencies located in the state of Minnesota (one card per location.)

    None

    Special Borrowing Privileges include:
    • 6-week loan period
    • 2 renewals
    • 350 item check-out limit
    • Recall privileges
    * Interlibrary loan privileges and remote access are not included with membership.

  3. Law Firms, Attorneys, & Law Students
    Borrowing privileges at the Law Library are available for attorneys, law firms, and law students from Hamline and William Mitchell Universities. Interested parties should contact the Law Library Circulation desk at 612.625.4300 for information.

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  4. Contact the Interlibrary Loan Office of your nearest public library
    The office will then ask the University to send the specific items you request.

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  5. Contact the University Libraries' fee-based document delivery services, InfoNow. Document delivery is faster then regular interlibrary loan; prices vary by type of request.

    • For information on both the biomedical sciences, and other disciplines, contact InfoNow, 450B Diehl Hall, 505 Essex Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455; phone 612-626-3940; Toll-free: 800-477-6689; Fax: 612-626-3824; Toll-free Fax: 800-343-8636.

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Additional questions regarding borrowing privileges at the University of Minnesota Libraries can be directed to the Borrowing Privileges & Fines office at (612) 624-3383.

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