Borrowing
Current UC San Diego faculty, staff, and students may borrow materials from the UC San Diego Library and libraries worldwide. Your UC San Diego ID card is your library card. Other users are eligible for borrowing privileges upon registration. See Library Cards & Checkout Periods for details.
Request & Hold Books
Users can request UC San Diego Library items listed as “Available” in UC Library Search to be retrieved and made available at your preferred pick-up location. You’ll receive an email notice within 4 to 7 business days when the item is available for pick-up. Materials will be held for up to 7 days.
Submit Your Request
UC San Diego affiliates, locate the desired items in UC Library Search and log-in to request.
Borrow from Other Libraries
All UC San Diego Library cardholders also have access to the wide variety of books beyond our campus through the San Diego Circuit. Visit the Circuit catalog to search for items across member institutions. Once an item has been found, click the request button. Choose your institution (UC San Diego) and then enter your name and barcode number (starting with 21822) and select a pickup location. Contact staff via LibraryBorrowing@ucsd.edu with any questions regarding the Circuit service.
Renew
Renew UC San Diego Materials
Your print items will auto-renew 7 days before their due date if eligible. Follow the steps below to renew in advance or to renew non-print items.
- Go to UC Library Search.
- Log in to your My Library Account.
- Check the box next to the item(s) you want to renew, and select Renew Checked Items.
You can also renew items at the Front Desk of Geisel Library or WongAvery Library, or by phone at 858-534-0134. Items with requests or that have been billed cannot be renewed.
Renew Interlibrary Loan Materials
- Go to UC Library Search.
- Log in to your My Library Account.
- On My Library Account, go to the LOANS tab and choose the item to renew
- For items from other UCs, you will need to filter to that institution to see items on your account
- Check the box next to the item(s) you want to renew, and select Renew Checked Items
If the Renew option doesn't appear, this means the item is not available for renewal at that time. Contact ill@ucsd.edu about other available options.
Submit renewal requests up to one week before the due date. Requests submitted after the item's due date may result in late fees. Allow 4 to 5 business days for a final response.
Return
Any non-book items should be returned to the location where they were checked out. If you will be visiting the library, you can stop by the Geisel or WongAvery Front Desk to return materials to staff at those locations. Our external book returns are open 24/7, excluding campus closures. Drive up book returns are located at the North Point Information Kiosk. You can also find external book returns outside each library entrance.
Tech Lending Return
Items from Tech Lending must be returned to the Geisel Front Desk.
Library Annex
The Library Annex serves as the primary off-site storage facility for hundreds of thousands of infrequently circulated materials from the Library's collections and select Special Collections & Archives materials.
Cardholders can request items in UC Library Search. Non-Cardholders can request these materials for use at their local library through San Diego Circuit or their local library's interlibrary loan service
Items held at the Annex from Special Collections & Archives will be made available for use in Geisel Library’s Special Collections & Archives unit during its hours.
Search for Missing Items
If you can't find an item on the shelf and it is listed as “Available” in UC Library Search, report it missing by contacting the Front Desk of Geisel Library or WongAvery Library. Library staff will verify the item’s status and shelving location, and initiate a search if the item cannot be located.
Check UC San Diego Email for Library Notices
The UC San Diego Library sends all notices by email. Library notices for UC San Diego faculty, staff, and students are sent to your official UC San Diego email address.
The Library is not responsible for notices that are not received. Failure to respond to notices can result in suspension of Library borrowing privileges and the assessment of Library fines and/or fees. If you do not receive Library notices, contact the Front Desk of Geisel Library or WongAvery Library.