University at Albany Students, Faculty, and Staff

The following is required for members of the University at Albany community to use circulation services, interlibrary loan, and remotely access electronic resources.

Proxy Borrowers

University at Albany faculty, and persons registered with the Office of Disabled Student Services, may authorize others to borrow materials on their behalf. The proxy patron is issued a card and checks out materials directly to the original card-holder's account. The faculty member or disabled person assumes responsibility for materials checked out by the surrogate. Authorization forms are available at the Circulation Desk.

Borrowing privileges for Community Borrowers and University at Albany Alumni

The University Libraries offer a community borrower program that provides access to circulation services. Community borrower library cards are good for one year. This service does not include interlibrary loan privileges or remote access to the Libraries’ licensed electronic databases.

Please visit the circulation desk at any of the three University Libraries to complete a borrower registration form and obtain a community borrower card. The following ID and documentation is required to obtain a community borrower card.

University at Albany Students, Faculty, and Staff may borrow up to 250 items at a time. Community borrowers may borrow up to 30 items at a time.

*Library staff will extend equipment loan periods based on user needs and equipment availability—users can request longer loan periods at checkout.

Unreturned books and media will be declared lost and patrons will be billed a replacement fee of $105, and equipment will be billed at the replacement cost. The Libraries will refund the replacement fee for any library-owned books and media declared lost and subsequently returned within one year of the due date. Users may instead choose to replace lost materials with exact copies in like-new condition—please consult library staff before purchasing a replacement copy as it is at the Libraries’ discretion to determine whether or not replacement copies are in acceptable shape. For items borrowed from other libraries, please email circulation@albany.edu for more information.

Library fees are added to student accounts and can be paid through e-pay. Faculty, staff, and community borrowers will receive an invoice for library fines and replacement charges, and payments must be mailed into the University’s lock box. The Libraries do not accept payments at any of our service desks. Failure to pay library invoices may result in a referral to a collection agency or the State Attorney General's Office; additional administrative charges may be added to the invoice. If you have questions about library charges, or would like to appeal a library charge, please email circulation@albany.edu.

Requesting (Paging) Library Materials

Users may request library materials using the Catalog & Search Tool. Library materials can be requested for pickup at any circulation desk; faculty and staff can request office delivery, and distance learners may request home delivery. Users will receive an email message when requested items are available for pickup or have been mailed out.

Office deliveries are distributed by Campus Mail Services to departments located on the Academic Podium on Tuesdays and Thursdays and to all other departments daily. For more information, see Mail Services for Faculty & Staff

Renewing/Returning Library Materials

Renew materials online by logging into My Library Account, in person at any of our circulation desks, or by phone (442-3569).

Course reserves and equipment must be returned to the library from which they were checked out. All other items may be returned to any library. 

The Libraries provide outdoor bookdrops for returns — these are located in front of the University and Dewey Libraries. Indoor bookdrops are located on the East Campus for School of Public Health students, faculty, and staff.

Materials can be returned by mail to: 

University Library Circulation 
University at Albany, SUNY 
1400 Washington Ave., LI-119 
Albany, NY 12222 

Users are responsible for materials returned by mail, and we encourage insuring any mail returns against loss or damage. 

Please return all materials within sets (e.g., all DVDs and the case for a box-set) at the same time.

Email is the Libraries’ primary communication method with patrons. The Libraries send email notices for

• Due date and return receipts
• Approaching due date reminders
• Overdue items
• Recalled items
• Requested items available for pickup

The Libraries send email notices to official University at Albany (albany.edu) email addresses for students, faculty, and staff. Community borrowers provide a valid email address upon registration and are responsible for updating their email address on file as needed. Users are obligated to respond to all overdue, recall, and fine notices. Users are responsible for the timely return of library materials and payment of any library charges regardless of whether or not they receive an email notice.

Please promptly report the loss or theft of your UAlbany ID card, community borrower library card, or CDLC DAP card. Users are responsible for all materials borrowed on their cards until loss is reported to the University Libraries.

Please email or call the Circulation Desk with any questions about circulation loan policies.