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Reciprocal Borrower Card

Eligibility

  • Faculty, Staff, Graduate Students and Undergraduates registered at a university in Ontario (OCUL members)
  • Faculty, Staff and Graduate Students registered at a university in Quebec (CREPUQ members)
  • Faculty, Staff, Graduate Students, Undergraduates registered at universities in the Atlantic provinces (CAUL/CBUA members) or the Western provinces (COPPUL members)
  • Faculty registered with North American members of OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program
  • Retired faculty from other Canadian universities who have library privileges at their home university library
  • Consult the Canadian University Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement for additional information.

Application

  • A current University ID card must be presented at the Circulation Desk, Mills Memorial Library, together with identification showing a current address. After an application form has been completed, a temporary McMaster University Library Card expiring the following September 15 will be issued.
  • A replacement charge is imposed for lost or damaged cards.
  • Application for renewal of borrowing privileges can be made beginning in September. The old card should be presented together with a current University ID card.

Borrowing Policy

  • Up to 20 books may be borrowed from the circulating collections for two-week periods. Limit of 10 recalls can be placed.
  • Any book may be renewed unless it has been requested by another user (limit of 2 renewals per book).

Returning Books

  • Books may be returned at McMaster Libraries, or at any participating OCUL Library. McMaster books may not be returned to libraries in other provinces.

Exclusions

  • Non-circulating materials (for use in the library only) include: reference works, periodicals, rare books, sound recordings, some government publications, cartographic material, computer-assisted instructional software and audiovisual material.
  • Reserve material may not be borrowed
  • Interlending privileges are not available
  • No access to licensed e-resources

Other Services

  • Reciprocal borrowers can apply for a temporary Guest Internet Account at Mills, Innis or Thode libraries to use the public computers in those libraries. A temporary Guest Internet Account CANNOT be used to access the internet on a personal laptop. This account can be used only in these libraries and will expire at library closing on the day of issue. Some e-resource restrictions apply - see Electronic Products Which Do NOT Permit Walk-in Users.

Photocopying

Responsibilities

  • Borrowers are responsible for the safe and timely return or replacement of materials borrowed, and for any fines or charges incurred for overdue, lost or damaged books.
  • The non-receipt of library notices by a borrower does not relieve the borrower from fines or suspension of privileges.

Sanctions

  • Library privileges will be withdrawn from any student, faculty or staff member who abuses the system.