UM Libraries Special Borrowers Card Services
Who Is Eligible?
A current University of Maryland ID card is required for all UM faculty, staff and students to borrow materials from the University of Maryland Libraries. The UM Libraries may grant a Special Borrowers card, which allows limited library privileges, to users in the categories below. Note that all categories require picture ID from your home institution and a local mailing address. Some may require other information as indicated.
- Unregistered UM student (finishing an incomplete or completing a thesis.)
[Requires a letter (on letterhead) from the UM department head, instructor or faculty advisor stating the student's status and need for library access.] - CIRLA graduate student. See: http://www.lib.umd.edu/ILL/cirla.html
- Faculty from a Maryland post-secondary institution
- Faculty from an OCLC reciprocal Borrowing Institution. See: http://www.lib.umd.edu/ILL/RecFacBor.html
- PhD student from a non-UM university.
[Requires a letter (on letterhead) from student's faculty advisor stating purpose and duration of access.] - UM faculty/staff Employee Designee.
[Requires registration of employee designee with University Human Resources. See http://www.uhr.umd.edu/data/info_designees_campus_privileges.cfm]
University of Maryland alumni may join the Alumni Association to gain borrowing privileges.
Library users who do not belong to any of these categories may become a Friend of the Libraries.
About the Card
The card is issued for a minimum of 1 semester.
Your Special Borrowers card permits you:
- to borrow material from all UM Libraries, including Off-site Shelving.
- a 56-day loan period in most cases; all loans are subject to recall
- unlimited loans and renewals of circulating materials
- access to:
- Recall services for UM materials already checked out
- Reference service as provided to the general public
- Services
for the Disabled by request. You must already be trained in
the use of the Kurzweil reader and other special equipment for the
disabled. The Library does not provide training for Special Borrowers card holders in the use of this equipment. For more information on users with disabilities, see: http://www.lib.umd.edu/PUBSERV/disabilities.html
- use of any of the UM Libraries' facilities and collections on site, including audiovisual materials, Reserve materials and electronic databases
What is not included:
- interlibrary loan
- remote access to databases that are restricted to UM faculty and students
- borrowing materials from any other USMAI library
- Late Night Study in McKeldin Library
- study carrels
Note: The Libraries reserve the right to withdraw a Special Borrowers card loan privileges for overdue or recalled items that are not returned and for library fines that have not been paid in a timely fashion. Borrowers using a Special Borrwers card are charged the same overdue and recall fines as UM students, staff and faculty.
Also note that Special Borrowers card holders are bound by the same Library User Responsibilities as other library borrowers. General borrowing policies and guidelines may be reviewed at Borrowing Materials from UM Libraries.
How to Apply
You must present a photo ID and other required materials (as indicated above) at McKeldin Library Circulation, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Contact McKeldin Library Circulation at (301) 405-9091 or email askmckcirc@umd.edu if you have questions or need additional information.
