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External & Other Borrowers

External Borrowers

The York University Libraries exist primarily to meet the information needs of students, faculty, and staff at this university. Limited library privileges are available to the wider community. An external borrower card entitles the holder to borrowing privileges from our stacks with the exception of access to reserve collections, maps, resource sharing and restricted borrowing at SMIL. Due to vendor licensing agreements, most external borrower categories do not have remote access to periodical databases and most electronic journals and ebooks. External Borrowers are allowed to borrow up to 15 books for a 14 day loan and to renew items twice only. Library cards are issued to external borrowers at Bronfman, Frost, Law and Scott circulation desks. Proof of identification is required. Lending regulations are outlined in the Libraries Lending Code. Borrowing privileges may be withdrawn from any borrower who violates the regulations of York University Libraries.

Alumni

Upon presentation of a York U physical or digital alumni card, which can be obtained by registering at York U Alumni Perks and downloading the app, York alumni may purchase a library card for $25.00. Print copies of the digital alumni card are accepted with identification. The library card is valid for one year from date of issue. No portion of the fee will be refunded if a borrower ceases to use the card during this time.

Limited library privileges are available to alumni. These include:

  • borrowing from our stacks with the exception of access to reserve collections, Maps, and Resource Sharing.
  • a maximum of 15 books checked out at one time
  • a 14 day loan period
  • a maximum of two renewals on items checked out

Due to vendor licensing agreements, alumni borrowers do not have remote access to periodical databases and most electronic journals and ebooks.

School of Continuing Studies Students

School of Continuing Studies students, including students enrolled with the York University English Language Institute, can use their YU-card to borrow from the library and have remote access to most periodical databases, electronic journals and ebooks. Certain borrowing limits apply.

  • borrowing from our stacks with the exception of access to reserve collections, Maps, and Resource Sharing.
  • a maximum of 15 books checked out at one time
  • a 14 day loan period
  • a maximum of two renewals on items checked out

Extramural Readers

Members of the community who are 16 years of age or older are eligible for external borrower cards upon payment of a fee of $100.00. The card is valid for one year from date of issue. No portion of the fee will be refunded if a borrower ceases to use the card during this time.

Limited library privileges are available to extramural readers. These include:

  • borrowing from our stacks with the exception of access to reserve collections, Maps, and Resource Sharing.
  • a maximum of 15 books checked out at one time
  • a 14 day loan period
  • a maximum of two renewals on items checked out

Due to vendor licensing agreements, extramural readers do not have remote access to periodical databases and most electronic journals and ebooks.

Direct Borrowing

Direct borrowing is available for faculty, students and staff whose university is a member of Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL); faculty, professional staff and graduate students whose university is a member of Bureau de Coopération Interuniversitaire (BCI), Council of Atlantic Librarians/Conseil des Bibliotheques Universitaires de l’Atlantique (CAUL/CBUA), Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries (COPPUL). Consult the Canadian University Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement website for participating institutions, details on documentation required for borrowing, and other information.

For each academic year, the card issued is valid until September 30. Participants in the direct borrowing agreement are allowed to borrow up to 15 books for a 2-week loan period and to renew items twice only.

York University Libraries accepts applications for library cards from faculty, staff, and graduate students only from University of Toronto.

Inter-University Borrowing Project (IUBP)

A faculty member, student, or staff member visiting from one of the following Quebec institutions may apply for a library card upon presenting a current IUBP card:

  • Bishop's University
  • Concordia University
  • McGill University
  • Université de Montréal
  • École Polytechnique
  • HEC Montréal
  • Université de Sherbrooke
  • Université du Québec
  • Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
  • Université du Québec à Montréal
  • Université du Québec à Rimouski
  • Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
  • Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue
  • Université du Québec en Outaouais
  • École nationale d'administration publique
  • École de technologie supérieure
  • Institut national de la recherche scientifique
  • Télé-université
  • Université Laval
  • Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec

For each academic year, the card issued is valid until September 15.

Pre-University Studies

Participants are required to submit a Library Card Application form signed by the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies Continuing Education. The card issued is valid for the duration of the course.

Adjunct Professors and Visiting Scholars

For adjunct professors at York who do not receive an employee number, the Libraries must receive one of the following:

  • An appointment letter on York University letterhead listing the individual's departmental affiliation as well as the length of their term at York University. This appointment letter should also be signed by the Faculty Dean, Chair of the affiliated department and/or the Principal of Glendon College.
  • A message from the departmental Chair confirming the appointment and that the individual will be using his/her library privileges for research, academic, or course development purposes.

For visiting scholars at York, the Libraries must receive documentation from the Chair of the department or unit with whom the visiting scholar is affiliated, with the following information:

  • Confirmation of the appointment/affiliation/project.
  • Length of the appointment/affiliation/project term.
  • Confirmation that library privileges will be used for research, academic, or course development purposes.

Please provide documents electronically by emailing askusyul@yorku.ca.

Osgoode Hall Law School Library: form required to be submitted to Osgoode

Postdoctoral Fellows

Postdoctoral Fellows who are being paid by York University directly are entitled to a YU-Card and can obtain the card by going to the YU-Card office. For other requests please email askusyul@yorku.ca .