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Libraries

Library Cards

A valid library card is required to borrow material. All University of Alberta students and most full-time and part-time continuing University of Alberta faculty and staff are eligible to obtain a ONEcard. Other clients are asked to present valid photo ID with a permanent address, such as a driver's license, in order to obtain or renew a free library card at most University of Alberta Library service desks.

Primary Clients

University of Alberta students, faculty (current and retired) and staff (current and retired). The ONEcard serves as a library card. ONEcards are issued to students at registration. Students, faculty or staff who do not have ONEcards should inquire at the ONEcard Office, B-12 Cameron Library, 492-7924. Part-time faculty or staff who may not be eligible to receive a ONEcard will be referred to a University of Alberta Library Service Desk for a library card.

Under the Canadian University Reciprocal Borrowing agreement, University of Alberta faculty, staff and students are allowed to borrow materials directly from other Canadian University libraries if, for example, they are studying at a distance in the location of a participating library. Distance students are encouraged to check with libraries in their local area for useful materials. Further information about this direct borrowing initiative is available from University of Alberta Library service desks.

Partnership Clients

  • NEOS: The primary clients of other NEOS member libraries are entitled to borrow most University of Alberta library materials upon presentation of a valid NEOS library card, which is available from their own NEOS member library.
  • TAL: The Alberta Library (TAL) is a province-wide multi-type library consortium linking all types of Alberta libraries in order to provide all Albertans with timely access to information. Clients of other TAL members are entitled to borrow University of Alberta library books upon presentation of a valid TAL card which is available from their own TAL member library.
  • Canadian University Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement (CURBA): Reciprocal borrowing privileges are granted to faculty, staff and students from most Canadian universities. A valid university identification card or a valid regional consortia card must be presented at a University of Alberta Library service desk to register for this service. Faculty, staff and students should check with their home library to ensure they have appropriate identification before visiting a University of Alberta library. If you are from a participating institution in the Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries (COPPUL), please ask for a COPPUL card at your home institution's library, and bring the card with you to Edmonton.
    COPPUL:
    When you present a COPPUL card at a library service desk, it is accepted as your introduction from your home library, and a library staff member will create a University of Alberta Libraries card for you. 
    Participating Libraries outside of COPPUL:
    When you present your University identification at a library service desk, a library staff member will contact your home library by phone or by email to verify that you are have a current library account in good standing. Faculty, staff, or students with more than $50 worth of fines or excessive overdues on their home library accounts will be refused a University of Alberta Libraries card. Click here to find out whether your institution belongs to CURBA.
    - Faculty, staff, and students from COPPUL institutions, who do not have a COPPUL card from their home institution, can also present their home institution ID, and library staff will contact the home institution's library.

External Client Library Cards

Application for a free University of Alberta External Client's library card may be made at all University of Alberta Library service desks. Cards are issued on a twelve month basis and may be renewed if there are no fines or charges on the client's record. When registering for a library card, or renewing an existing card, valid photo ID with a permanent address such as a driver's license, must be presented.

Although external clients may borrow most University of Alberta materials, materials in some collections such as those in the Curriculum Library, the Music Library, collections of sound and video recordings, and the Bruce Peel Special Collections Library are available for in-house use only. Contact other NEOS libraries directly for information regarding access to those collections.

A University of Alberta Library External library card does not include off-campus access privileges to most online databases or electronic journals.  Our vendor/publisher licenses do not permit off-site access to licensed resources to those who are not current students, staff or faculty.  Click here for information on obtaining a Temporary Computing ID for accessing licensed online resources on-site in any U of Alberta Library.

For a fee schedule of Interlibrary loan services to external clients, please contact the Interlibrary Loan office, 1-110 Rutherford Library North.

A maximum of ten items may be borrowed concurrently on an external library card.

The basic loan period for most materials is two weeks.

Renewed materials may be recalled and loan periods shortened if requested by another patron.

Fines for late return are $2.00 per day for books or periodicals and $5.00 per day for Recalled items returned late.  See http://www.library.ualberta.ca/circulation/fines/index.cfm for more information regarding fines including payment options.

Charges for lost materials are $150.00 per item.

Additional information regarding University of Alberta Libraries policies and services is available by contacting any U of Alberta Library Service Desk.