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University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Reciprocal Borrowing

A guide explaining reciprocal borrowing privileges for visitors from other institutions and Illinois patrons visiting other libraries.

Required Documents

OCLC borrowers must present the following to check out materials:

  • OCLC card.

  • ID from their home institution. If the institutional ID is not a photo ID, a valid photo ID will also be required.

BTAA borrowers must do the following to check out materials:

  • Present ID from their home institution. If the institutional ID is not a photo ID, a valid photo ID will also be required.

  • Verify their current affiliation by authenticating it through the BTAA website.

Visitors will not be able to access I-Share materials, materials from Residence Hall libraries, or Interlibrary Loan. Visitors may access electronic resources using public computer terminals within the library, but will not be able to access electronic resources from elsewhere.

BTAA Borrowers

BTAA borrowers visiting the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are issued a library courtesy card upon presentation of ID from their home institution and authentication of their current affiliation through the BTAA website. If the institutional ID is not a photo ID, a valid photo ID will also be required. BTAA borrowers have the following borrowing privileges:

  • Main Stacks access 

  • 4-week loan period for most books

  • 10 renewals per item for most books

  • Building use only for most journals

  • 100-item limit

Please contact us in advance to verify the availability of specific material.

OCLC Faculty from Illinois and Surrounding States

Faculty from OCLC institutions in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Michigan, and Wisconsin visiting the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are issued a library courtesy card upon presentation of an OCLC card and ID from their home institution. If the institutional ID is not a photo ID, a valid photo ID will also be required. OCLC faculty from Illinois and surrounding states have the following borrowing privileges:

  • Main Stacks access

  • 4-week loan period for most books

  • 10 renewals per item for most books

  • Building use only for most journals

  • 100-item limit

Please contact us in advance to verify the availability of specific material.

OCLC Faculty from All Other States

Faculty from other OCLC institutions may obtain building-use-only access to library materials upon presentation of their OCLC card and institution ID. If the institutional ID is not a photo ID, a valid photo ID will also be required. OCLC faculty from these institutions have the following borrowing privileges:

  • Building use only for items

  • No renewals

  • 4-item limit

  • Main Stacks access may be granted on a case-by-case basis. Please fill out the Main Stacks Access webform to petition for Main Stacks access. 

Please contact us in advance to request Main Stacks access or to verify the availability of specific material.

Other Visitors Who are Scholars

In addition to privileges extended under these reciprocal borrowing programs, visitors who are scholars may be sponsored by an academic department. For more information on this process, please see our information on Courtesy Borrowing Cards.