Eligibility 

IU Bloomington affiliates wishing to borrow from other universities

IU Bloomington faculty, staff, and students may be able to borrow materials from other colleges and universities in person. To be eligible for these programs, you must be a registered Libraries' user in good standing. 

  • Faculty are eligible for all programs.  
  • Currently enrolled students in good standing, and staff, are eligible for the Academic Libraries of Indiana (ALI) Borrowing Program, and the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Reciprocal Borrowing Program.

See details for each program below. 

For the ALI Borrowing Program or the OCLC Scholars Reciprocal Borrowing Program, you will need to get a reciprocal Borrower's Card before you go to the other library.

The BTAA Reciprocal Borrowing Program is managed online and no longer requires issuance of a card. 

Once your request is processed, you will receive an email alerting you that your card or form is being sent through campus or regular mail.

Since your card or form is being mailed to you, it may take 7 to 10 business days for you to receive it.

Visitors to IU Bloomington

Scholars visiting from other institutions, please bring your valid university ID, a current government-issued photo ID, and any program-specific validation to the circulation desk on the first floor of the East Tower of the Wells Library (Scholars Commons). Library staff will verify your status and provide you with an IU Borrower's Card if necessary.

Program Details

Academic Libraries of Indiana (ALI) Borrowing Program

The Academic Libraries of Indiana (ALI) agree to extend in-person borrowing privileges to faculty, staff, and students of member institutions. This is a cooperative onsite borrowing agreement among 68 Indiana institutions of higher learning. To participate, the borrower needs a signed ALI Borrower's Card from the home institution library, campus identification, and a photo ID with a current address such as a driver's license.

Instructions for IUB Faculty, Staff, Students

Instructions for Visitors from a participating ALI Library

  • You must present the ALI Borrower's Card you obtained from your home institution's library and a government-issued photo ID.
  • At the IUB libraries, ALI Borrower's Card carriers will receive the same privileges as Indiana residents.

General Instructions regarding ALI Borrowing Program

  • Borrowing privileges are determined by each lending (host) library which may provide shorter or different loan periods from those available at the individual's home library. Other restrictions may also apply. The home library has final authority to issue or deny this privilege and determines the expiration date on the ALI Borrowers Card.
  • The library staff member issuing the ALI Borrower's Card will verify eligibility and make certain that the borrower's home library account is not delinquent.
  • Borrowers are subject to the rules and regulations of the lending library and are responsible for knowing and observing these rules. Borrowers may return items via their home institution's courier service, but they are responsible for any overdue charges incurred. Borrowers are responsible for all financial obligations incurred at the lending library. Failure to receive notification does not absolve borrowers of library obligations.
  • Borrowers must present the lending library with a valid, current ALI Borrowers Card issued by the home institution, campus identification card, and a photo ID with a current address. Some lending libraries may issue an additional Borrower's card.
  • Borrowers should report lost or damaged materials to the library from which the item was borrowed.
  • Borrowers are responsible for supplying a current mailing address to the lending library.

OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program

IUB Faculty Visiting Other OCLC Program Institutions

  • Those with faculty status are eligible to participate in the OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program.
  • Check the list of participants (PDF) in the OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program to see if the university you are interested in visiting is listed.
  • Faculty intending to visit a participating library should complete the Reciprocal Borrowing Request form.
  • Library staff will issue an OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program card.
  • Access and privileges may vary from institution to institution.
  • The lending library determines whether the card will be accepted for on-site use and/or borrowing.

Faculty from Other OCLC Program Institutions Visiting IUB

The IUB Libraries offer borrowing privileges to faculty from institutions participating in the OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program.

  • Faculty from participating institutions should contact their local university library to obtain an OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program card before coming to IU.
  • Bring the OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program card, your valid university ID, and a current government-issued photo ID to the circulation desk on the first floor of the East Tower of the Wells Library, Scholars' Commons. 
  • Library staff will verify your status and provide you with a Library Card.
  • The Library Card is good for access to the library buildings and for borrowing privileges.

Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Reciprocal Borrowing Program

The Big Ten Academic Alliance institutions have agreed to offer staff, students, and faculty at the other participating institutions the opportunity for both in-house use and in-person borrowing privileges. A full description of these privileges is available via the BTAA web site on the page Reciprocal Borrowing.

Instructions for IU Bloomington Faculty & Graduate Students

To apply for borrowing privileges from other Big Ten libraries, you will need to validate your eligibility via the BTAA Reciprocal Borrowing application while on-site at the other BTAA location. Specific procedures at other BTAA libraries may vary; inquire at a service desk. 

Instructions for BTAA Visitors 

  • To obtain a Borrower's Card at IU, you must apply in person.
  • You will be asked to present a government-issued photo ID and to validate your eligibility online. 
  • At the IUB libraries, BTAA card carriers will receive comparable privileges as at their home institution. 

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