External Borrower Card

External Borrower cards are issued to individuals with a regular or continuing need for research and scholarly materials. There is an annual fee for the card and borrowing limitations apply.

Eligibility

• Cards are issued to individuals with a regular or continuing need for research and scholarly materials.
• Cards are not issued to primary and secondary school-students.

Application

• Application forms should be completed at the Library Services Desk, Mills Memorial Library.
• Identification showing a current address is required.
• Cards can be issued during the following hours (summer and holiday hours vary):

Cost

• Alumni:
  • Graduates of McMaster University are issued External Borrower Cards at no charge with proof of graduation. Alumni Cards are available from Alumni Advancement which is located in the President's Residence on campus and can be used as proof of graduation to obtain an external borrower card from the library.
• Others:
  • The annual fee for the External Borrower Card is $60.
  • Payment may be made by cheque, MasterCard, VISA or debit card. No cash please.

Telephone

• (905) 525-9140 ext. 22077 (no telephone service after 9 pm or on weekends)

Responsibilities

• External Borrower card holders are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Library Regulations.
• Misuse of the library card or failure to respond to notices will result in the withdrawal of borrowing privileges.
• Cards may be used only by the holder and are not transferrable.

Loan Period / Borrowing Limitations

• External Borrowers may check out circulating materials for a two week period.
• Up to 20 books may be on loan at one time.
• Reserve materials may not be borrowed.
• Any book may be renewed unless it has been requested by another user (limit of 2 renewals per book ).
• Limit of 10 recalls can be placed.

Renewal of Card

• All cards expire annually at the end of the month indicated on the expiry sticker. The card should be presented when applying for the renewal.
• Cards can be renewed at the times stated above under Application , provided that no materials are overdue and any outstanding charges are paid.

Change of Address / Lost Card

• It is the responsibility of library patrons to keep the University informed of their current address.
• The non-receipt of library notices by a borrower does not relieve the borrower from fines, book replacement charges, or suspension of privileges.
• The library must be notified when the card is lost or stolen.

Services Available

• External Borrower card holders, including Alumni,  may use all the services provided by the Library, with the exception of Interlibrary Loan Services and off-campus access to our licensed e-resources. Access to our library catalogue is free to all users. External borrowers should direct interlibrary loan requests to their public library or any other library with which they are affiliated.