Borrowing Policies

Borrowing Library Materials

Loan periods
Item Length of loan
Books 8 weeks
Journals 8 weeks
Media 1–8 weeks
Microforms 1 week
Laptops and peripherals 3 hours–overnight
Specialized equipment 1–3 days
Course reserve material 2 hours–3 days
Permissions
Permission Details
Number of checkouts allowed Unlimited
Cost of library access No charge
Remote database access Yes
Request Annex material Yes
2CUL privileges Yes
Designate proxy borrowers No
Spouse/domestic partner privileges Yes
Loan periods
Item Length of loan
Books 1 year
Journals 1 year
Media 1–8 weeks
Microforms 1 week
Laptops and peripherals 3 hours–overnight
Specialized equipment 1–3 days
Course reserve material 2 hours–3 days
Permissions
Permission Details
Number of checkouts allowed Unlimited
Cost of library access No charge
Remote database access Yes
Request Annex material Yes
2CUL privileges Yes
Designate proxy borrowers No
Spouse/domestic partner privileges Yes

Loan periods
Item Length of loan
Books 1 year
Journals 1 year
Media 1–8 weeks
Microforms 1 week
Laptops and peripherals 3 hours–overnight
Specialized equipment 1–3 days
Course reserve material 2 hours–3 days
Permissions
Permission Details
Number of checkouts allowed Unlimited
Cost of library access No charge
Remote database access Yes
Request Annex material Yes
2CUL privileges Yes
Designate proxy borrowers Yes
Spouse/domestic partner privileges Yes

Cornell faculty and staff can authorize someone to be a proxy borrower. This person will be able to check out materials at our on-campus library locations on behalf of the faculty or staff member.

If you don’t have a valid Cornell ID, you can get a free library card with borrowing privileges. Called “Borrow on Site!”, this renewable library card enables visitors to check out circulating materials, including books, DVDs, CDs, and other physical media from any of our libraries on the Ithaca campus. Borrowed library materials can be renewed online or on site and returned in person or by mail, but they must be picked up on site. Fill out an online application to request your library card, or call our Library Public Services Office at (607) 255-5069.

Faculty and Staff can request access to online content for individuals without a valid Cornell ID at libpublicservices@cornell.edu after first obtaining a sponsored NetID.

If you have questions about your library privileges, please contact the Library Public Services Office at libpublicservices@cornell.edu.

Fines

The fine for recalled items is $3.00/day for every patron category. If unreturned, high cost and high demand items (such as laptops, equipment, reserves items) will be billed for replacement cost after two days. Regular items (such as books from the general circulating collection) will be billed for replacement cost after 27 days. When the billed amount reaches $150, the borrower’s access to the Library will be blocked until the item is returned.