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University of Chicago Borrowers

Current students and full-time faculty and staff from University of Chicago (who have borrowing privileges at U of C libraries) are eligible for borrowing privileges at many Northwestern Libraries. This agreement does not include privileges at Northwestern's Galter Health Sciences Library, Pritzker Legal Research Center or United Library.

Note that this arrangement does not apply to proxies (authorized borrowers); alumni; retired faculty (except emeritus faculty); visiting scholars; children and/or spouses or domestic partners of faculty, staff or students; Library Society members; Crerar corporate members; Lab School students or fee borrowers.

Privilege details

  • Loan period: 16-week loan period for most books, with a guaranteed 10-day minimum loan for recalled items. DVDs and videos from the Mitchell Multimedia Center can be borrowed for 7 days. Transportation Library material can be borrowed for 4 weeks. 
  • Renewals: Items can be renewed three times, either in person or via NUsearch, the online library catalog system. After the third remote renewal, books must be brought in to start a new loan. 
  • Returns: It is strongly preferred that items be returned to the library from which they were borrowed. Items can be returned to the owning library through the ILDS system, but this is discouraged because patrons will be accountable for the item until it reaches the owning library, and there is no way of tracking items shipped in this way. You will be held responsible for any book returned to a different library, including any fines at accrue while in transit, until it is checked in at Northwestern. 
  • Fines, fees and penalties: Northwestern does not charge daily fines on regular loan booksIf an item becomes exceeds its loan grace period, it is considered "lost," and a $125 replacement charge, and the patron record is blocked from further transactions. University of Chicago borrowing privileges are also blocked until the material is returned.

Obtain a borrower's card

Current students, faculty, and staff who have a library account in good standing at University of Chicago may apply for a borrower's card at Northwestern. To begin the application process, please complete the application form. A reciprocal borrower’s card is valid for the academic year through June 15, and can be renewed annually upon verification of current status and as long as your library accounts at both institutions are in good standing.

Apply here

Questions?

Contact our Circulation Desk at 847-491-7633.