Borrowing Items
How do I check out a book?
Charging materials out at Mann Library is easy. Present your photo ID (Cornell ID or driver’s license) to the circulation staff and they can access your library account. Please keep in mind that without your ID, staff cannot access your account and therefore cannot check out books to you. So always make sure you bring your ID.
How long can I check out an item?
Different items have different loan periods that affect how long you may have the book. Likewise, the patron group you belong to, like undergraduate, privilege card holder, or faculty member, also affects how long you may check out an item.
Faculty members have an indefinite loan period on regular books. The items are only due back if recalled or if the faculty member leaves Cornell University.
Staff and Graduate students all have a 6 month loan period on regular books. Books can be recalled after two weeks and the recall process will affect the due date (please see requesting items page for more information about recalls).
Undergraduate students have a 6 week loan period on books. For all other materials, the loan period is the same for faculty, staff, grad, or undergrad. Those loan periods are as follows:
| Item Type | Loan period |
| Bound Journals | 3 days |
| Unbound Journals | 1 day |
| Reserve Items* | varies (generally 2 or 4 hrs) |
| Current Periodical Items | 2 hours |
| Laptops | 4 hours |
| Other equipment** | varies |
| Study rooms*** | varies |
| Lockers | semester |
| Cameras | up to 4 days |
*see Reserves page for complete listing & availability
** see Equipment page for complete listing & availability
***see Equipment and Rooms page for listing & availability
Privilege Card Users have a 4 week loan period on regular books. Privilege card users may not check out journals or hourly materials (like reserves).
Proxy Status can be set up by Faculty or Staff. A proxy is given permission to access the account of the host, thus granting them the same loan period as faculty and staff.
Spouses of Cornell students and faculty can purchase Cornell ID cards from the Registrar to enable them to borrow Library materials. Spouses of Cornell staff can get Library cards from 116 Olin library. The spouse who is officially connected with the university is responsible for these items, and notices go to the address for the spouse who is officially connected with the university.
Visitors may use the collections or on-line resources at Mann Library anytime the building is open. See the Hours and Maps page for hours, directions, facilities, and maps.
