You can check out books, movies, music, and other items from the library using your University of Illinois i-card. You can also use your library account to request items online. Students and faculty have access to all libraries on campus.

When you search for books in the online library catalog, you will need the call number to find it and check it out. There are two types of call numbers:

• Dewey Decimal
• Library of Congress

Which type of call number is used depends on which library you go to.

U of I Graduate Students can check out materials for longer periods of time than undergraduate students. Graduate students can request any I-Share Library item through the online catalog.

How long you can check out books:

• Books
  • 4 weeks – I-Share items
  • 16 weeks – Urbana campus items
  • Periodicals – varies by library location, check the Library Catalog for status (most unbound periodicals don’t circulate)
• Renewal limits
  • 10 renewals – Urbana campus items
  • 3 renewals – I-Share items

You can renew materials you have checked out three ways:                                  

1. Online: University of Illinois and I-Share Library materials can be renewed using your library account in the online catalog.
2. By Telephone: Call Central Access Services at (217) 333-8400.                       
3. In Person: At any library circulation desk.

See our guide on Using the Library Catalog for more information.

Books and library materials can be picked up from the departmental library in which they are located. Please refer to the online catalog record for call number and location.

If you would like to request an item be sent to another library for pickup, please use the "Request" feature in the library catalog. Requests can take up to two days to arrive at the pickup library.

If you have an office on campus, you may request that your items (with the exception of videos from the Undergraduate Library) be sent through Campus Mail. Simply choose the Campus Mail option in the "Request" feature of the online catalog. Keep in mind that this process can take up to three days.

If you need an item right away, please go directly to the library where the item is located.

 You may return all University of Illinois and I-Share books to any library that is convenient for you.

• All videos checked out from the Undergraduate Library, must be returned to the Undergraduate Library Services Desk. (Please do not drop in the box, it can damage the cases.)
• Bound periodicals must be returned to the library from which you checked them out. You will be assessed late fees of $2 for the first hour and $1 every hour after, if not returned on time.
• Interlibrary Loan items must be returned to the 2nd floor Circulation desk.