KU Library Borrower Card
Information for Resident and Reciprocal Borrowers
This information is for individuals who have purchased or renewed a KU Library Borrower Card. Keep the card you have received. Most borrower cards expire one year from the date of purchase. You may renew the card annually as long as it remains in good condition, and you continue to qualify for borrowing privileges with the KU Libraries. Complete access and circulation policy information is available at Policies.
The borrower card includes a barcode that you will need to use along with your last name to log in to confirm due dates, to renew eligible items online, and to enter Recall and Retrieve from Shelf requests. See Renewing Library Materials below for login instructions.
Library Privileges for Resident and Reciprocal Borrowers
Access to collections:
Unless otherwise posted because of current renovation or maintenance, the library book stacks are open for browsing in open stack locations on the Lawrence campus. Patrons with active KU Library Borrower Cards are able to request eligible items via the Retrieve from Shelf service or ask for assistance at a library service desk.
Before you request items, review the expiration date for your KU Library Borrower Card. If you are uncertain, you may call the Watson Library Checkout Desk at (785) 864-8983 or email libfines@ku.edu to ask, and the expiration date will be reported. If your card is already expired, you will be able to see that by logging in to My Account; see Renewing KU Library Materials below for how to log in. Be sure the expiration date is at least two months from the date you are placing requests. See Purchase New and Renew KU Borrower Cards below for more information.
Requesting and checking out library materials:
Eligible items may be requested via the Request from Shelf service. With each Retrieve from Shelf request, designate the location where you want to check out items by selecting a Deliver to location: Anschutz, Art & Architecture, Music & Dance, and Watson are open to check out library materials and answer your questions. Be sure to wait for the Item Available Notice, usually sent via email, before coming to the library to check out items. See Retrieve from Shelf for information about placing requests. See also library locations and hours.
Home Loan Delivery:
Active borrowers living outside of Lawrence and Douglas County may request Home Loan Delivery as the Deliver To location in their requests. When completing the request, provide your street address in the “Comments” field of the request form or email your address to illlend@ku.edu.
Limits:
Although the library system allows more than 20 requests to be placed, Resident Borrowers will be limited to checking out 20 items at a time. We ask that you select carefully and limit your requests. This service will be provided as long as we can meet your needs while serving KU students, faculty, and staff. Also, please keep in mind: Consider requesting needed items through the interlibrary loan services of your college, university, or local public library.
Purchase New and Renew KU Library Borrower Cards
New and renew cards:
You may apply for a borrower card or ask to renew a card at the Watson Library Checkout Desk until one hour before closing on days open. See Watson Library hours.
To request renewal by mail:
Send an email message to libfines@ku.edu or call the Watson Library Checkout Desk at (785) 864-8983 to request a renew borrower card by mail application packet. Be prepared to provide your postal mailing address. An application form and instructions for required documentation and payment will be sent. Upon receipt of complete packets and payment, a new borrower card will be mailed out or an existing card will be renewed. You will then be able to enter requests and check out library materials.
Renewing KU Library Materials
You are responsible for keeping track of when your checked out items are due. To review the due dates for your materials, go to My Account and log in following the instructions below. Please note: In person renewals are no longer possible at the Edwards Campus. Contact libfines@ku.edu for assistance when the maximum number of online renewals have been used.
What is your barcode? Posted instructions request an 8-digit number; you will need to enter the full combination of the 8-character barcode recorded on the reverse including letters and numbers. For older borrower cards with the 16-digit number, use the last 8 digits as your patron barcode.
The process described below works for items checked out for 6 weeks as long as the items have not been requested by another borrower and there are no blocks on your library privileges. You may also use this login to review due dates and times for all checked out items.
Go to the Libraries’ Website. Click the My Account link under Borrow & Request. Select the Barcode Login option, and enter your last name and patron barcode, then click Login. Click VIEW ALL LOANS to open the list of ITEMS CHECKED OUT. If there any items you want to renew, click the box in front of the item and then click the RENEW button on the right. The new due date will appear in the yellow box below ITEMS CHECKED OUT. Items marked as Not Renewable will need to be returned to the library by the due date and time listed to avoid overdue fines and/or lost item replacement charges and processing fees. When finished, click your name in the upper right corner to select the Sign Out option and then close your browser. See My Account and Renewing Library Materials for more information.
After the maximum online renewals have been used, the items must be returned to the library to be checked out again. You will be able to renew long-term loan items up to five times provided your borrowing privileges are active and in good standing. Items checked out for 6 weeks or longer may be returned to any location of the KU Libraries system.
Short-term and Reserve Loans: All items checked out for two weeks or less must be returned to the library from which they were checked out by the time due in order to avoid overdue charges and in order to check them out again. Most of these items cannot be renewed online. Selected bound and unbound journals and some DVDs may be renewed online once for one additional week. Ask for information at a library service desk, email libfines@ku.edu, or call (785) 864-8983.
Returning Library Materials
KU Libraries materials may be returned to one of the walk-up book returns on the Lawrence campus or to a Lawrence campus library during hours open. See the locations and more information including how to return items via a mail or delivery service at Returning Library Materials. Library materials returned to the Edwards Campus in Overland Park will take a week or longer before they appear as returned on your library account. While materials are in transit to Lawrence, borrowers may receive overdue notices or lost item billings for the items. Materials are backdated to the date they are returned at the Edwards Campus.
For More Information and To Ask Questions
Asking Questions about KU Libraries Policies and Procedures
Lost Library Materials, Damage Charges, Appeals
Library Resources for Kansas Residents
Library Resources for KU Alumni
Scanning and Printing for Visitors to KU Libraries