Researchers from Other Colleges & Universities
ALERT: Library Spaces Closed to Patrons
All Library spaces are currently closed to patrons except for the Regenstein lobby pickup area.
Only patrons with scheduled appointments for on-site services may enter the outer lobby of Regenstein.
Questions? Contact ipo@uchicago.edu.
Faculty, Students, and Staff from other Institutions
If you are a researcher from another academic institution with a legitimate research need, there are several ways you can access the University of Chicago Library.
Many academic institutions have special privileges with our Library. To determine if you are a member of an affiliated institution, see the table below for Privileges for Researchers from Affiliated Institutions.
If you are a researcher from an other academic institution, see the table further down the page for Privileges for Researchers from Unaffiliated Institutions.
We expect all users to abide by the policies and principles expressed in the Library's statement of User Rights and Responsibilities for Creating and Sustaining a Scholarly Environment. All Library users are also responsible for keeping their personal contact information up to date.
We are committed to providing access to both our physical and electronic resources to users with disabilities; for more information see Services for Users with Disabilities.
Privileges for Researchers from Affiliated Institutions
Users affiliated with the following groups may have special privileges at the University of Chicago Library. To determine if your institution is a member of the BTAA (Big Ten Academic Alliance), BorrowDirect, OCLC, or SHARES agreements, click on their names below to see membership lists. Access privileges grant entry to all campus libraries during regular building hours unless otherwise stated, while specific borrowing privileges depend on the affiliation. For users who are eligible for borrowing privileges, see our Borrowing Policies for more information.
| Institution | Affiliation | Privileges | Action needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University | Faculty, Students, Beneifts Eligible Staff | Borrowing |
To receive a borrowing card immediately, visit the ID & Privileges Office. To pick up a card from the Northwestern Main Library, complete a University of Chicago Borrowing Card Request. |
| University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) | Tenure-track Faculty | Borrowing | Obtain an authorized UIC Faculty Library ID through the Richard J. Daley Library, then bring it and your UIC ID (i-card) to the ID & Privileges Office. |
| University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) | Students | Access | Obtain an authorized UIC Graduate Student or Undergraduate Student Library ID through the UIC Richard J. Daley Library then bring it and your UIC ID (i-card) to the ID & Privileges Office. |
| Hyde Park Seminaries | Faculty, Students, Benefits Eligible Staff | Borrowing |
Chicago Theological Seminary users must present a current CTS photo ID. Students from all other Hyde Park Seminaries, as well as Faculty and Staff from the Catholic Theological Union, must bring a valid ACTS Card to the ID & Privileges Office. Other users must present a current photo ID to the ID & Privileges Office. Hyde Park Seminaries include Catholic Theological Union, Chicago Theological Seminary, Lutheran School of Theology, McCormick Theological Seminary, and Meadville Lombard Seminary. |
| Chicago Area Law Schools | Law School Students and Faculty | Access to D'Angelo Law |
Students and faculty from the following law schools may access the D'Angelo Law Library by showing a valid ID: Chicago-Kent, DePaul, John Marshall, Loyola, Northwestern. Please note that access is limited during reading period and exam period. |
| Unaffiliated Medical Schools | Students and residents working at local hospitals or scheduled to take the USMLE | Access to Crerar | See Visiting Crerar. |
| BTAA (Big Ten Academic Alliance) | Faculty, Students, Benefits Elegible Staff | Quarterly Borrowing | Bring a current institutional ID (and a second photo ID if the institutional ID lacks a photo) to the ID & Privileges Office and confirm eligibility by using the network credentials from your home institution. Privileges are valid through the current academic quarter only and must be renewed each successive quarter by visiting the ID & Privileges Office. |
| BorrowDirect Plus (Ivy Plus) | Faculty, Students, Benefits Eligible Staff | Quarterly Borrowing | Must show current institutional ID (and a second photo ID if institutional ID does not have photo) and also be able to verify their affiliation by using their network credentials from their home institution. Privileges are valid through the current academic quarter only and must be renewed each successive quarter by visiting the ID & Privileges Office. |
| OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing | Faculty | Quarterly Borrowing | Obtain a reciprocal borrowing card from home library, then bring it and a photo ID to the ID & Privileges Office. |
| SHARES On Site Access | Faculty, Students, Professional Library Staff | Access |
Bring a current Institutional ID and photo ID to the ID & Privileges Office. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is excluded from this agreement; users affiliated with the SAIC are not automatically eligible for privileges. See below for information about Privileges for Researchers from Unaffiliated Institutions. |
| SHARES Onsite Borrowing Pilot | Faculty, Students, Benefits Eligible Staff | Quarterly Borrowing: 25 concurrent item limit | Complete the SHARES onsite borrowing application and wait for approval from your home institution before you arrive. Bring government-issued photo ID to the ID & Privileges Office to establish privileges. |
Privileges for Researchers from Unaffiliated Institutions
Faculty and students from academic institutions that are not listed above may still be eligible for some privileges at the University of Chicago Library in order to research using our collections. All researchers from other institutions must have a photo ID and valid institutional ID for access to the Library.
Visit the ID & Privileges Office during its hours to establish privileges.
| Affiliation | Access Privileges | Borrowing Privileges | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty: Tenured and Tenure Track | Quarterly Access Privileges | Available for purchase: $200/Quarter | Borrowing privileges are limited to 25 concurrent items. |
| Faculty: Adjunct, Part-Time, or Non-Tenure Track | Quarterly Access Privileges | none | |
| Students from a college or university with a specific research need | Day pass for single day entry: limit of 7 per calendar year (see Members of the Public) | none | Students doing extended research at The University of Chicago Library may be able to purchase weekly or quarterly access privileges. |
Extended Research
Students from any institution wanting to conduct extended research using the University of Chicago Library collections may be able to purchase access privileges. To apply for extended privileges, mail a written statement to the ID & Privileges Office outlining the nature of your research and demonstrating a need for our specific collections. The letter should also outline any institutional affiliations you might have and the period in which you hope to conduct your research here.
If approved, you may purchase 7 consecutive days of access for $25 or quarterly access for $100. Once on campus, you will need to provide proof of registration and a photo ID at the ID & Privileges Office.
Accessing Electronic Resources
Visitors may access the Library’s electronic resources only while in Library buildings, due to site licensing agreements. While in Library buildings, visitors may use Library computers or the Library’s wireless network to access electronic resources and networked printing.
See Computers & Wireless for more information.