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Borrowing Privileges

Use the tabs below to learn about your loan periods, loan limits and how to borrow. 

Currently enrolled Northwestern undergraduates can borrow items with their Wildcards.

Students with an incomplete or on a leave of absence can obtain a three-month Borrower's Card to check out items. Contact the Circulation Department at 847-491-7633 or circulation@northwestern.edu to learn about the required documentation and steps to obtain a card.

Note that a Borrower's card does not grant access to Northwestern Libraries' online databases, but visitors can obtain a GuestNetID for database access.

If you would like to use a chosen name for your library account, complete the library name change form. Once submitted, your chosen name will be used on all library communications, including your NUsearch and Interlibrary loan accounts.

Enrollment in a paid tuition class or section is required for library circulation privileges.

Loan period and limits

The loan period below is for items from the University Library's general collection. Items from the Marjorie I. Mitchell Multimedia Center, the Music Listening Center and items on Reserve for a class have shorter loan periods.

  • Loan period: 16 weeks; items can be renewed consecutively three times.
  • Loan limits: 200 items

A due date could be shortened in the following circumstances: 

  • The item is recalled for Course Reserve; in this circumstance, you would be notified via email of the new due date. Overdue recalls will be declared lost and are subject to a refundable $125 replacement fee.
  • Your Wildcard expires during the loan period; in this circumstance, your materials are due on your Wildcard expiration date

Currently enrolled graduate students and faculty members can borrow items with their Wildcards. Retired faculty can obtain Wildcards and borrow items, as well. (See Services for Retired Faculty & Staff for more information or fill out the Borrower's Card Request Form to apply.)

The following groups, which do not have Wildcards, can obtain a Borrower's Card to check out items: 

  • Graduate students who arrive before course registration.
  • Students with an incomplete or on a leave of absence can obtain a three-month Borrower's Card to check out items. Contact the Circulation Department at 847-491-7633 or circulation@northwestern.edu to learn about the required documentation and steps to obtain a card.
  • Contract faculty and Short-Term Faculty, Lecturers, Visiting Scholars, Northwestern Consultants or Post-Docs, or Appointees to Northwestern (who are here for too short of a time to receive a Wildcard)

Contact the Circulation Department at 847-491-7633 or circulation@northwestern.edu to learn about the required documentation and steps to obtain a card. Note that a Borrower's Card does not grant access to Northwestern Libraries' online databases, but visitors can obtain a GuestNetID for database access.

If you would like to use a chosen name for your library account, complete the library name change form. Once submitted, your chosen name will be used on all library communications, including your NUsearch and Interlibrary loan accounts.

Enrollment in a paid tuition class or section is required for library circulation privileges.

Loan period and limits

The loan period below is for items from the University Library's general collection. Items from the Marjorie I. Mitchell Multimedia Center, the Music Listening Center, and items on Reserve for a class have shorter loan periods.

  • Loan period: Up to one year with items due on 5/31 of each year. Items can be renewed indefinitely.
  • Loan limits: 500 items

A due date could be shortened in the following circumstances:

  • The item is recalled for Course Reserve; in this circumstance, you would be notified via email of the new due date. Overdue recalls will be declared lost and are subject to a refundable $125 replacement fee.
  • Your Wildcard expires during the loan period; in this circumstance, your materials are due on your Wildcard expiration date

Staff members can borrow items with their Wildcards.

Retired staff, employees of University contractors on the Evanston campus and temporary employees can obtain library borrowing privileges with a valid Wildcard. If you are eligible to apply for a borrower's card, please fill out the Borrower's Card Request Form.

If you would like to use a chosen name for your library account, complete the library name change form. Once submitted, your chosen name will be used on all library communications, including your NUsearch and Interlibrary loan accounts.

Loan period and limits

The loan period below is for items from the University Library's general collection. Items from the Marjorie I. Mitchell Multimedia Center and the Music Listening Center have shorter loan periods.

  • Loan period: 16 weeks; items can be renewed consecutively three times.
  • Loan limits: 200 items

A due date could be shortened in the following circumstances. 

  • The item is recalled for Course Reserve; in this circumstance, you would be notified via email of the new due date. Overdue recalls will be declared lost and are subject to a refundable $125 replacement fee.
  • Your Wildcard expires during the loan period; in this circumstance, your materials are due on your Wildcard expiration date

Those outside of the Northwestern community may be able borrow items in the following circumstances:

  • Domestic partners and spouses of Northwestern employees are eligible for Wildcards and are granted borrowing privileges with those Wildcards.
  • Northwestern alumni can gain access to the library during all open hours using an Alumni Association Card but must obtain an Alumni Borrower's Card to check out items.  See the Alumni Borrowing page to learn more.
  • Evanston residents over the age of 18 may obtain a three-month or one-year Borrower's Card. (Please note that the Evanston Resident Borrower's card does not include borrowing privileges from Interlibrary Loan, Multimedia, Law, Health Sciences, Styberg, or Reserve Collections.)
  • Those from another University with which Northwestern has a borrowing agreement, any of the Big Ten Schools, the University of Chicago and Loyola University, may obtain a Borrower's Card. Additional borrowing details can be found on our Reciprocal University Borrowing webpage.

Note that a Borrower's card does not grant access to Northwestern Libraries' online databases, but visitors can obtain a GuestNetID for database access. A Borrower's card also does not grant access to Northwestern interlibrary loan.

If you are eligible to apply for a borrower's card, please fill out the Borrower's Card Request Form.

Contact the Circulation Department at 847-491-7633 or circulation@northwestern.edu with questions. 

Loan period and limits

The loan period below is for items from the University Library's general collection. Items from the Marjorie I. Mitchell Multimedia Center and the Music Listening Center have shorter loan periods.

Patron type Loan period Loan limit
Spouse or Domestic Partner of Faculty or Staff 16 weeks 100 items
Northwestern Alumni 4 weeks 100 items
Loyola and UIC Guest Borrowers 4 weeks 100 items
U of C and CIC Guest Borrowers 16 weeks 100 items
Evanston Residents 4 weeks 25 items
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) Members 4 weeks 100 items

Note that a due date could be shortened if an item is recalled for Course Reserve; in this circumstance, you would be notified via email of the new due date (overdue fines will apply).