Reciprocal Borrowing

The University of Maryland Libraries shares in research partnerships with other institutions, allowing eligible UMD users to have direct access to materials at other libraries and eligible visiting institution members access to UMD's collections. Our Reciprocal Borrowing form can help UMD users quickly identify from which libraries they are eligible to borrow; just select your status to see a custom list of institutions.  

Please be aware that privileges vary from institution to institution. Some materials may be borrowed and others used only on the premises of the owning library, depending on local lending policies. If you intend to visit a participating library, you may want to contact the library in advance to verify relevant policies and practices, including any limitations. 

 

Big Ten Academic Alliance

As a member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance (Big Ten), University of Maryland Library users are eligible to receive on-site access and borrowing privileges at other Big Ten libraries.

 

Big Ten library users will receive free membership in our Community Researcher program. For the list of privileges available to Big Ten Library users, please visit our privileges page.

CIRLA

The Chesapeake Information and Research Library Alliance (CIRLA), of which the University of Maryland College Park is a member, is a direct reciprocal borrowing agreement for graduate students and faculty.

 

The Chesapeake Information and Research Library Alliance (CIRLA) - of which the University of Maryland College Park is a member, is a direct reciprocal borrowing agreement for graduate students and faculty. It is devoted to the acquisition, distribution, and sharing of information and research resources in support of faculty research and teaching, and graduate study and research.  

CIRLA Libraries agree to extend direct, reciprocal, in-person borrowing privileges to graduate students from member universities and researchers and fellows from member federal agencies. Each home library will establish eligibility for direct borrowing privileges. The lending library determines specific privileges, including the maximum number of checkouts and the specific ending date for borrowing privileges. Borrowers under this program are subject to the regulations and loan periods established by the lending library.

These privileges will apply only to the following libraries at each institution:

  • Georgetown University - Lauinger Library and Bloomer Science Library
  • George Washington University - Gelman Library
  • National Agricultural Library - Beltsville Library
  • Smithsonian Institution - (excludes FreerSackler, Hirshorn, NMAA/NPG)
  • University of Delaware - all University of Delaware Libraries
  • University of Maryland - all College Park Libraries

Other restrictions and policies may be imposed by individual member libraries.

  • Eligibility: UMD Graduate Students and Faculty
  • Member Institutions: George Washington University, Smithsonian Institution, Georgetown University, Library of Congress, University of Delaware, National Agriculture Library, University of Maryland - College Park, National Library of Medicine
  • Registration information: Fill out the Reciprocal Borrowing form (a completed CIRLA Direct Borrowers Form will be emailed to you afterwards)
  • Documentation required by the other library: UMD photo ID and completed CIRLA form

CIRLA users will receive free membership in our Community Borrower program. For the list of privileges available to CIRLA users, please visit our privileges page.

  • Eligibility: Graduate Students and Faculty at CIRLA institutions 
  • Member Institutions: George Washington University, Smithsonian Institution, Georgetown University, Library of Congress, University of Delaware, National Agriculture Library, University of Maryland - College Park, National Library of Medicine
  • Registration information: Complete a CIRLA Direct Borrowers Form from your own institution and UMD's Community Borrowers and Researchers Application (select "CIRLA Faculty/Graduate Student" as your affiliation) before you arrive.
  • Documentation required at the Library Services Desk in McKeldin Library: Completed CIRLA form and valid photo ID (we will issue you a borrowers card for use at our libraries)

OCLC

The OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program allows researchers on-site access to collections and borrowing privileges at member institutions in North America.

  • Eligibility: Current, full-time UMD Faculty
  • Member Institutions: OCLC Reciprocal Borrowing Members (PDF)
  • Registration information: Fill out the Reciprocal Borrowing form. Once you receive a reply, bring your current UMD Faculty ID to the Library Services Desk at McKeldin Library for verification of status and library account.
  • Documentation required by the other library: UMD Faculty ID and Reciprocal Faculty Borrowers card

OCLC users will receive free membership in our Community Borrower program. For the list of privileges available to OCLC users, please visit our privileges page.

  • Eligibility: Faculty at member institutions 
  • Member Institutions: OCLC Reciprocal Borrowing Members (PDF)
  • Registration information: Obtain a Reciprocal Faculty Borrowers card from your home institution and fill out UMD's Community Borrowers and Researchers Application (select "OCLC Reciprocal Borrower" as your affiliation) before you arrive.
  • Documentation required at the Library Services Desk in McKeldin Library: Reciprocal Faculty Borrowers card and valid photo ID (we will issue you a borrowers card for use at our libraries)

SHARES

A small group of SHARES libraries offer reciprocal onsite borrowing privileges to each other’s patrons.

  • Eligibility: Students, Faculty, Staff at member institutions
  • Member Institutions: Participating SHARES institutions
  • Registration information: Complete the SHARES onsite borrowing application before you arrive and wait for approval by your home institution before you arrive.
  • Documentation required at the Library Services Desk in McKeldin Library: valid photo ID (we will issue you a borrowers card for use at our libraries)

Questions?

Questions? Contact docdel@umd.edu or 301-405-9178 (Monday - Friday, 10am - 5pm)

Back to Top