Borrowing from the S&E Library

How do I get a library card?
How long can I keep a book?
How long can I keep a journal?
Can I renew a book when it is due?
The book I want is checked out. What do I do now?
The item I want is not on the shelf. Now what?
The item I want is not owned by UCSD.
Can I still get it? I got a bill, what do I do?

How do I get a library card?

UCSD faculty, visiting scholar, staff and students:

The UCSD ID card is your library card. If you are new students, you can start borrowing materials from any of the UCSD libraries. If you are new  faculty and staff, stop by any library circulation desk and complete a patron registration form; then you may check out books from any campus library. Additional details on proxy cards and faculty, staff, and student privilege levels for UCSD primary users are available. Visiting scholars, please contact the UCSD SSHL Circulation Desk for more information (534-3336).

Other Users:

If you are not a current faculty, staff or student, you may obtain a library card for a fee at the Social Science and Humanities Library Circulation Desk. For more details, see How to Obtain a Library Card/Borrowing Privileges.

How long can I keep a book?

Undergraduates and public users can check out S&E books for 28 days.

S&E books checked out by graduate students are due at the end of each quarter: the specific due dates are September 23, January 3, March 23, and June 23.

Faculty have tri-yearly due dates for S&E books: February 1, June 1 and October 1.

See the Libraries' circulation policy for borrowing privileges for users in other categories.

How long can I keep a journal?

Bound journals circulate for 24 hours to faculty, staff and students only. Current issues of journals may not be removed from the library, except with special permission. Many journals have electronic versions that you can view at your desktop.

Can I renew a book when it is due?

Faculty, staff and students can renew their UCSD library materials. Call the S&E Library Circulation Desk at 534-3257 to renew, send e-mail to secirc@ucsd.edu, or use Roger, the UCSD online catalog, to view your record and renew outstanding materials.

To renew interlibrary loan books please use My ILL Request, or contact the S&E Library ILL Unit at scilib@ucsd.edu or call 858-534-1219. Set up your computer with Proxy or VPN if you use My ILL Request from off campus.

The book I want is checked out. What do I do now?

If you are a UCSD faculty, staff or student, you may recall the item. Call (534-3257), e-mail secirc@ucsd.edu or stop by the S&E Circulation Desk and request a recall. The person who has the material will be asked to return it to the library in 1 week; when it arrives, you will be notified.

All library card holders may also use Circuit to search for and request materials that are checked out at UCSD. Books you get through Circuit are normally available for checkout the next business day after you place your request.

All UCSD faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students may also use Request from the Melvyl Catalog to search for and request an Interlibrary loan for materials checked out at UCSD (except books on Reserves). Request books generally take 3-10 days to arrive.

The item I want is not on the shelf. Now what?

If you have looked for an item and cannot find it, you may request a search at the S&E Circulation Desk. Circulation staff will search the stacks and other likely places for the item and inform you when it is found. If they cannot find it, you may request an Interlibrary Loan.

If you are looking for a journal issue, be sure to check its record on Roger to verify that the issue has arrived and is not at the bindery. Check with the S&E Circulation Desk for assistance in locating lost issues. Online versions are available for numerous S&E Library journals and can also be found using Roger. Request an Interlibrary loan for articles from journal issues unavailable at UCSD.

The item I want is not owned by UCSD. Can I still get it?

All library card holders may also use Circuit to search for and request materials that are checked out at UCSD. Materials you get through Circuit are normally available for checkout the next business day after you place your request.

If you are a faculty, staff or student, you may request a book or journal article on Interlibrary Loan using an electronic request form, in person at the S&E Reference and Circulation desks, or by e-mail to scilib@ucsd.edu. More details on Interlibrary Loans are available.

Other users should contact the UCSD PLUS Information Services which provides loans for a fee.

I got a bill, what do I do?

For more information, please visit our billing service web page or e-mail us at secirc@ucsd.edu.