To borrow print materials from the Health Sciences Library, a valid identification card issued by CUIMC, Columbia University's Morningside campus, NewYork-Presbyterian, or the New York State Psychiatric Institute is required. Please note that having access to the Library space does not guarantee borrowing privileges. Please contact the Library to verify your borrowing privileges should you have any doubt as to your status.

Eligible items from the Morningside campus Libraries’ circulating collections, including items held in Columbia's offsite storage facility in New Jersey, can be requested through our pick-up service. Scanning is also available for some onsite collections and from offsite collections. Eligible items will have a "Scan" hyperlink in the Columbia Libraries Information Online (CLIO)  record. Reproductions of small portions of content will be made in accordance with our Terms of Service.

Loan periods

• Books that are included in the Health Sciences Library and other Columbia University Libraries' general circulating collection may be borrowed as semester-long loans. You can always see what date something is due by checking "My Borrowing Account" for current due dates of materials you have borrowed.
• Course reserve items are checked out in 2-hour increments.
• Books borrowed using the Borrow Direct system may be kept for up to 16 weeks but cannot be renewed.
• Interlibrary loan items have varying due dates set by the lending institution.
• All materials held by the Library's Archives & Special Collections do not circulate; they must be accessed in person and remain on site.

Renewals

• Books checked out from the Health Sciences Library may be renewed up to 10 times, as long as another borrower has not requested it.
• To renew your items online, access "My Borrowing Account" and follow the instructions.
• Renewal is unavailable for Borrow Direct items.
• Interlibrary loan items borrowed through the Health Sciences Library may only be renewed by contacting the Library's Interlibrary Loan office via email at hsl_ill@cumc.columbia.edu. Renewal is at the discretion of the lending institution. Please refer to the Interlibrary Loan Policy for more details.

Returns

We accept for return any items borrowed from the Health Sciences Library, including Borrow Direct and interlibrary loan items, as well as items that are part of the general circulation collections from any of the Columbia University Libraries on the Morningside campus. Please return books to the information desk at the Knowledge Center during staffed hours.

Books borrowed from any of the Columbia University Libraries on the Morningside campus or from the Barnard Library may also be returned via the book bins outside the Butler Library, the Science & Engineering Library, and Lehman Library in the International Affairs Building

Please check with the Law School Library and the Teachers College Library about their return policies. Those libraries are separate entities from the Columbia Libraries system and operate independently.

Holds and recalls

A recall option is available if an item is listed in CLIO as “Checked Out” and is also unavailable through another method, such as Borrow Direct or interlibrary loan. When you place a recall request, you will receive a notice when the item is ready for pick up.

Once a recall has been issued, the person who has checked out the material must return it within two (2) weeks or by the original due date, whichever comes first. Fines accrue at $1 per day for items not returned by the new due date triggered by the recall.

A hold option is available for items that cannot be recalled. A hold request does not shorten the due date for the item, but will block any renewal of that item by the person who currently has the material checked out.

Overdue items and fines

Fees for overdue materials not subject to recall are 50 cents per day, up to a maximum amount of $15. Overdue course reserves material accrues fines of $2 per hour up to a maximum of $50 per returned item.

Long overdue items are considered lost. A single lost item will have an adverse impact on your library privileges. Please return long overdue items at your earliest convenience.

For overdue items that are lost or otherwise not returned, users will be charged the overdue fines plus the cost of replacing the item. The minimum amount is $100 per book. Borrowing privileges at all Columbia Libraries are temporarily suspended if fees exceed $99 or if a recalled item is not returned on time.

Log into "My Borrowing Account" to identify all items and fees associated with your account. Payment for Health Sciences Library items should be made at the Health Sciences Library information desk during staffed hours. To pay any fees that have been accrued on items borrowed from other Columbia University Libraries, please contact the Library Information Office on the Morningside campus.

Deputy borrower

University officers can designate a Deputy Borrower, someone who can charge and return items on your behalf. (A designated Deputy must already possess a current, valid Columbia University identification card.) To designate a Deputy, fill out the application form available through the Columbia University Libraries.

For more information, please contact the Health Sciences Library.

Last updated: 7/2023