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Library Cards and Checkout Periods

Contact us with any questions or to help determine your eligibility.
Undergraduates
Item Type Checkout Period
Maximum items checked out 200 (including 20 Circuit items)
Books 90 days, 6 renewals
Bound Journals 28 days, 6 renewals
Government Documents 28 days
Media Materials 10 days, 6 renewals
Books from Circuit 28 days, 3 renewals
Graduates
Item Type Checkout Period
Maximum items checked out 500 (including 20 Circuit items)
Books 365 days, 6 renewals
Bound Journals 28 days, 6 renewals
Government Documents 28 days
Media Materials 10 days, 6 renewals
Books from Circuit 28 days, 3 renewals
Faculty/Academics
Item Type Checkout Period
Maximum items checked out 500 (including 20 Circuit items)
Books 365 days, 6 renewals
Bound Journals 28 days, 6 renewals
Government Documents 28 days
Media Materials 10 days, 6 renewals
Books from Circuit 28 days, 3 renewals
Immediate family (18+) of UC Faculty/Academics
Item Type Checkout Period
Maximum items checked out 200 (including 20 Circuit items)
Books 90 days, 6 renewals
Bound Journals 28 days, 6 renewals
Government Documents 28 days
Media Materials Library Use Only
Books from Circuit 28 days, 3 renewals
Managers & Senior Professionals (MSP) and Executive Series Employees
Item Type Checkout Period
Maximum items checked out 500 (including 20 Circuit items)
Books 365 days, 6 renewals
Bound Journals 28 days, 6 renewals
Government Documents 28 days
Media Materials 10 days, 6 renewals
Books from Circuit 28 days, 3 renewals
Staff
Item Type Checkout Period
Maximum items checked out 500 (including 20 Circuit items)
Books 90 days, 6 renewals
Bound Journals 28 days, 6 renewals
Government Documents 28 days
Media Materials 10 days, 6 renewals
Books from Circuit 28 days, 3 renewals
Immediate Family (18+) of UC Staff/Professional or Graduate Student
Item Type Checkout Period
Maximum items checked out 25 (including 20 Circuit items)
Books 28 days, 6 renewals
Bound Journals 28 days, 6 renewals
Government Documents 28 days
Media Materials Library use only
Books from Circuit 28 days, 3 renewals

Additional Details

Contact us at LibraryBorrowing @ucsd.edu or by phone at (858) 534-0134 for further registration details.

Privileges do not include:

  • Off-campus access to electronic resources (articles, online journals, databases, e-books)
  • Interlibrary Loan services
  • Building access to the Overnight Study Commons
  • Access to protected Wi-Fi (guest Wi-Fi is available)
  • Current journal checkouts
  • Media checkouts (available to listen & view in-house only)
  • Tech Lending Item checkouts
Library Staff
Item Type Checkout Period
Maximum items checked out 500 (including 20 Circuit items)
Books 365 days, 6 renewals
Bound Journals 28 days, 6 renewals
Government Documents 28 days
Media Materials 10 days, 6 renewals
Books from Circuit 28 days, 3 renewals
Immediate family (18+) of Library Staff
Item Type Checkout Period
Maximum items checked out 200 (including 20 Circuit items)
Books 90 days, 6 renewals
Bound Journals 28 days, 6 renewals
Government Documents 28 days
Media Materials Library Use Only
Books from Circuit 28 days, 3 renewals
Local Students and Educators
Item Type Checkout Period
Maximum items checked out 25 (including 20 Circuit items)
Books 28 days, 6 renewals
Bound Journals 28 days, 6 renewals
Government Documents 28 days
Media Materials Library Use Only
Books from Circuit 28 days, 3 renewals

Additional Details

All library card holders must be eighteen (18) years of age or older and have a residential address within the state of California.

  • Provide verification of enrollment in current term or current employment as an educator.
  • Complete the Request a Community Borrower Card form.
  • Show a valid California driver's license, California identification card, or current passport.

Privileges do not include:

  • Off-campus access to electronic resources (articles, online journals, databases, e-books)
  • Interlibrary Loan services
  • Building access to the Overnight Study Commons
  • Access to protected Wi-Fi (guest Wi-Fi is available)
  • Current journal checkouts
  • Media checkouts (available to listen & view in-house only)
  • Tech Lending Item checkout
Concurrently Enrolled UC San Diego Extension Students
Item Type Checkout Period
Maximum items checked out 200 (including 20 Circuit items)
Books 90 days, 6 renewals
Bound Journals 28 days, 6 renewals
Government Documents 28 days
Media Materials Library Use Only
Books from Circuit 28 days, 3 renewals

Additional Details

Concurrently-enrolled students are those who are not regular UC San Diego students, but are taking regular UC San Diego courses for credit as a non-matriculated student and paying per-unit fees through UC San Diego's Extension. Concurrent students earn full academic credit and participate in courses as regular UC San Diego students, subject to the same conditions, requirements, and standards.

  • Provide a valid concurrent enrollment confirmation email from UC San Diego Extension office.
  • Complete the Request a Community Borrower Card form.
  • Show valid government-issued photo identification.

More information about other services for Extension Students.

Visiting Scholars
Item Type Checkout Period
Maximum items checked out 500 (including 20 Circuit items)
Books 365 days, 6 renewals
Bound Journals 28 days, 6 renewals
Government Documents 28 days
Media Materials 10 days, 6 renewals
Books from Circuit 28 days, 3 renewals

Additional Details

A Visiting Scholar is a scholar from another institution who visits the University for the purposes of participating in a University-sponsored educational program, cooperative agreement, or collaborative research project under the supervision of a UC San Diego faculty, for a short period of time. Visiting Scholars are entitled to the use of the Library and their Campus ID Card functions as their library card.

In order for a Visiting Scholar to check out Library materials, the department must properly enter the Visiting Scholar into UC Path with an expiration date and have provided the scholar with a UC San Diego email account. Please contact LibraryBorrowing@ucsd.edu with any questions or problems.

California Residents - Community Borrowing Card
Item Type Checkout Period
Maximum items checked out 25 (including 20 Circuit items)
Books 28 days, 6 renewals
Bound Journals 28 days, 6 renewals
Government Documents 28 days
Media Materials Library Use Only
Books from Circuit 28 days, 3 renewals

Additional Details

Most items in the UC San Diego Library collection are available for request from your local public or county library FREE using Circuit. Library staff can help you determine what privileges are best for you. Contact us at LibraryBorrowing@ucsd.edu or by phone at (858) 534-0134.

All library card holders must be eighteen (18) years of age or older and have a residential address within the state of California

Privileges do not include:

  • Off-campus access to electronic resources (articles, online journals, databases, e-books)
  • Interlibrary Loan services
  • Building access to the Overnight Study Commons
  • Access to protected Wi-Fi (guest Wi-Fi is available)
  • Current journal checkouts
  • Media checkouts (available to listen & view in-house only)
  • Tech Lending Item checkouts
Alumni (UC)
Item Type Checkout Period
Maximum items checked out 25 (including 20 Circuit items)
Books 28 days, 6 renewals
Bound Journals 28 days, 6 renewals
Government Documents 28 days
Media Materials Library Use Only
Books from Circuit 28 days, 3 renewals

Additional Details

Most items in the UC San Diego Library collection are available for request from your local San Diego Public or County library FREE using Circuit.

Those eligible include members of the UC San Diego Alumni Association or other UC Alumni Associations. Alumni who have made a philanthropic gift to UC San Diego during the past 12 months or are legacy Lifetime Alumni Association members are eligible for UC San Diego Library check out privileges. Gifts can be made at https://giveto.ucsd.edu/. Within 1-2 business days, you will receive an email confirmation and authorization for library privileges. Bring this letter to the main service desk at either UC San Diego Library location (Geisel Library or WongAvery Library). Members of other UC Alumni Associations are also eligible with verification of current paid membership or donation.

  • Provide verification of UC Alumni status and current paid membership or recent donation.
  • Complete the Request a Community Borrower Card form.
  • Show a valid California driver's license, California identification card, or current passport.

Privileges do not include:

  • Off-campus access to electronic resources (articles, online journals, databases, e-books)
  • Interlibrary Loan services
  • Building access to the Overnight Study Commons
  • Access to protected Wi-Fi (guest Wi-Fi is available)
  • Current journal checkouts
  • Media checkouts (available to listen & view in-house only)
  • Tech Lending Item checkouts
Others - Courtesy Borrowing Card
Item Type Checkout Period
Maximum items checked out 25 (including 20 Circuit items)
Books 28 days, 6 renewals
Bound Journals 28 days, 6 renewals
Government Documents 28 days
Media Materials Library Use Only
Books from Circuit 28 days, 3 renewals

Additional Details

  • Provide verification of eligibility in one of the following groups:
    • Immediate family of faculty and staff from other UC Campuses
    • Retired faculty and staff from other UC Campuses
    • Members of the UC San Diego Board of Overseers
    • Other Groups by Special Arrangement
  • Complete the Request a Community Borrower Card form.
  • Show valid government issued photo identification.

Privileges do not include:

  • Off-campus access to electronic resources (articles, online journals, databases, e-books)
  • Interlibrary Loan services
  • Building access to the Overnight Study Commons
  • Access to protected Wi-Fi (guest Wi-Fi is available)
  • Current journal checkouts
  • Media checkouts (available to listen & view in-house only)
  • Tech Lending Item checkouts
Non-Salaried Clinical Faculty
Item Type Checkout Period
Maximum items checked out 500 (including 20 Circuit items)
Books 365 days, 6 renewals
Bound Journals 28 days, 6 renewals
Government Documents 28 days
Media Materials 10 days, 6 renewals
Books from Circuit 28 days, 3 renewals

Additional Details

  • Eligibility for privileges will be confirmed with the School of Medicine.
  • Complete the Request a Community Borrower Card form.
  • Show valid government issued photo identification.

Privileges do not include:

  • Off-campus access to electronic resources (articles, online journals, databases, e-books)
  • Interlibrary Loan services
  • Building access to the Overnight Study Commons
  • Access to protected Wi-Fi (guest Wi-Fi is available)
  • Current journal checkouts
  • Media checkouts (available to listen & view in-house only)
  • Tech Lending Item checkouts
Immediate family (18+) of UC Non-Salaried Clinical Faculty
Item Type Checkout Period
Maximum items checked out 200 (including 20 Circuit items)
Books 90 days, 6 renewals
Bound Journals 28 days, 6 renewals
Government Documents 28 days
Media Materials Library Use Only
Books from Circuit 28 days, 3 renewals
Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) Staff
Item Type Checkout Period
Maximum items checked out 25 (including 20 Circuit items)
Books 28 days, 6 renewals
Bound Journals Library Use Only
Government Documents 28 days
Media Materials Library Use Only
Books from Circuit 28 days, 3 renewals

Additional Details

Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) Staff not otherwise affiliated with UC San Diego qualify for free UC San Diego Library checkout privileges.

All library card holders must be eighteen (18) years of age or older and have a residential address within the state of California.

  • Complete the Request a Community Borrower Card form.
  • Show a valid California driver's license, California identification card, or a current passport.
  • Provide a current, valid identification card from VAMC.

Privileges do not include:

  • Off-campus access to electronic resources (articles, online journals, databases, e-books)
  • Interlibrary Loan services
  • Building access to the Overnight Study Commons
  • Access to protected Wi-Fi (guest Wi-Fi is available)
  • Current journal checkouts
  • Media checkouts (available to listen & view in-house only)
  • Tech Lending Item checkouts