| 
Borrowing
Coming soon: Circulation is moving to the Lower Level of Du Bois in mid-July!
The newly expanded Circulation/Reserves service desk is scheduled to open in mid-July on the Lower Level of the Du Bois Library. Check out books, course reserve materials, laptops, multimedia equipment, public locker keys and more at this convenient combined service point. Who Can Borrow from the UMass Amherst Libraries?
The UMass Amherst Libraries lend to faculty, staff, and students of UMass Amherst and the Four Colleges. Borrowing privileges are extended to adult residents of Massachusetts, University Alumni, and to secondary students under 18 years old, as well as students at all other Massachusetts colleges and cardholders at institutions which are members of the Boston Library Consortium.
What Do You Need to Get a UMass Amherst Library Card?
For students, faculty, and staff of UMass Amherst, the UCard is the library card. All others must complete the borrower card application
| Eligible Borrowers | Requirements |
| Students from other Massachusetts colleges | Valid institutional photo ID |
| Adult residents of the Commonwealth | Proof of residence & photo ID |
| Secondary students under 18 years old | Recommendation letter from school administrator or school librarian & photo ID |
| UMass Amherst Alumni | Year of graduation, current address & photo ID |
| Visiting Scholars | Letter of introduction on letterhead from home institution or UMass host & photo ID |
| Non-residents of Massachusetts with current affiliation with UMass or the Four Colleges | Proof of current affiliation & photo ID |
| Users affiliated with Boston Library Consortium Institutions | Boston Library Consortium card & valid institutional photo ID |
http://www.blc.org/list_of_members.html
A photo ID must be presented with the borrower's card for each loan transaction. Borrowing privileges will be denied if a photo ID is not presented.
What Can I Borrow and Renew?
Most Library materials circulate and may be renewed online, in person, or by written request. Some Library materials are designated as non-circulating such as reference and law, and those in Special Collections and University Archives. Loan policies vary according to the following chart. For media materials such as DVDs, see Media Collection .
Books | ||
| Patron Type | Loan Period | Renewals |
| UMass Amherst Undergraduate | 28 days | 9 |
| UMass Amherst Continuing Ed | 28 days | 9 |
| UMass Amherst Graduate Student (Masters) | 28 days | 9 |
| UMass Amherst Doctoral Student | 180 days | 1 |
| UMass Amherst Faculty & Staff | 180 days | 1 |
| 4 Colleges Faculty & Staff | 90 days | 3 |
| 4 Colleges Students | 28 days | 9 |
| Other Massachusetts & BLC Consortium Colleges | 28 days | 9 |
| Massachusetts Residents | 28 days | 9 |
Microforms | ||
| Patron Type | Loan Period | Renewals |
| All users | 28 days | 0 |
Books at the Five College Depository | ||
| Patron Type | Loan Period | Renewals |
| UMass Amherst & Four Colleges Students | 28 days | 3 |
| UMass Amherst & Four Colleges Faculty & Staff | 28 days | 3 |
| Other Colleges | No | No |
| Massachusetts Residents | No | No |
| Unbound Periodicals | ||
| Patron Type | Loan Period | Renewals |
| UMass Amherst Undergraduates | No | No |
| UMass Amherst Continuing Education | No | No |
| UMass Amherst Graduate Students | 24 hours | No |
| UMass Amherst Faculty & Staff | 24 hours | No |
| Four College Faculty, Staff & Students | No | No |
| Other Colleges | No | No |
| Massachusetts Residents | No | No |
| Newspapers (Print) | ||
| Patron Type | Loan Period | Renewals |
| All Users | No | No |
| Bound Periodicals | ||
| Patron Type | Loan Period | Renewals |
| UMass Amherst Undergraduates | 24 hours | No |
| UMass Amherst Continuing Education | 24 hours | No |
| UMass Amherst Graduate Students | 24 hours | No |
| UMass Amherst Faculty & Staff | 24 hours | No |
| Four Colleges Faculty, Staff, & Students | No | No |
| Other Colleges | No | No |
| Massachusetts Residents | No | No |
| Reserve Materials* | ||
| Patron Type | Loan Period | Renewals |
| Anyone with a valid library card | Varies: 2 hour, 4 hour and 3 day loan periods specified by faculty / instructor | Yes, if no one is waiting |
| *Some Reserve items are in-library-use only | You must return and renew Reserve items on Floor 3 Du Bois Library | |
| Media: Videos (VHS, DVD), Audio CDs, Audiocassetttes, LPs | ||
| Patron Type | Loan Period | Renewals |
| UMass Amherst & Four College Students | Video: 5 days (Limit 3 items of each format) Audio: 3 days (Limit 3 items of each format) | No |
| UMass Alumni | Video: 5 days (Limit 3 items of each format) Audio: 3 days (Limit 3 items of each format) | No |
| Massachusetts Residents | Video: 5 days (Limit 3 items of each format) Audio: 3 days (Limit 3 items of each format) | No |
| UMass Amherst Faculty & Staff | Video: 5 days (Limit 3 items of each format) Audio: 3 days (Limit 3 items of each format) | No |
| Four Colleges Faculty & Staff | Video: 5 days (Limit 3 items of each format) Audio: 3 days (Limit 3 items of each format) | No |
| Tablet/Laptop PCs & Projectors from Floor 3 Du Bois* | ||
| Patron Type | Loan Period | Renewals |
| UMass Amherst Students ONLY | 4 hours | No |
| *These items are in-library-use only. | ||
Loan periods for Bound Periodicals held at the Five College Depository vary. Please ask at the Circulation Desk.
What is a proxy?
UMass faculty, staff and special needs students are eligible for a proxy card. A proxy card allows a designated individual to check out books for them. Research assistants are often designated as a proxy for faculty members. The faculty, staff or student who has authorized the proxy is responsible for all materials charged out on the proxy card.
The UMass Amherst Libraries are committed to protecting each library user's privacy and confidentiality by keeping any personally identifiable information about users private.
Last Edited: 29 June 2010
