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Library services for visitors: Special user types

Information for visitors to the MIT Libraries

MIT campus access

Borrowing Privileges Request Form

Users in the categories listed below are eligible for borrowing privileges. Fill out the Borrowing Privileges Registration form. 

If your request is approved, account setup for borrowing privileges typically takes one (1) business day to process. 

Please Note: accounts are not active and users cannot borrow items until they have received a confirmation email.

User types

Please note: Due to licensing agreements, off campus access to electronic resources is restricted to current MIT students, faculty and staff. See e-resource troubleshooting for more information.

Borrow Direct

Current students and faculty from Ivy Plus schools may apply for MIT Libraries borrowing privileges by completing the Borrowing Privileges Registration form. The first time you come on-site to borrow after your account has been activated, please bring your school ID. You will be asked to log in to Borrow Direct with your home institution credentials to verify eligibility.

Cross-registered students

Students at other schools who are cross-registered at MIT may borrow MIT Library materials by presenting a valid MIT ID at any information desk.

Lincoln Lab Employees

Lincoln Lab users who are also MIT employees may use their MIT employee ID to borrow at any MIT library. Lincoln Lab employees who are not also MIT employees are not eligible for physical borrowing privileges. For assistance with research, database use, or borrowing materials from other institutions, please contact the Lincoln Lab library for assistance.

MIT alumni/ae

MIT alumni/ae may register for borrowing privileges by completing the Borrowing Privileges Registration form Please note, these privileges do not extend to electronic access, but many e-resources may be accessed on site. The MIT Alumni Office provides access to some e-resources for MIT alumni. See Library Services for MIT Alumni/ae for more information.

MIT Spouse/Partners

Spouses and partners of MIT students, faculty, and staff who have an MIT ID may register for borrowing privileges by completing the Borrowing Privileges Registration form. 

OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program

The Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) Faculty Borrowing Program provides faculty members on-site access and borrowing privileges at member libraries - the MIT Libraries is a member of this cooperative library organization which includes 160 other research libraries (PDF).

To take advantage of this OCLC program as a visitor to the MIT Libraries, please work with your home library to obtain a card to present at MIT for registration and complete the Borrowing Privileges Registration form.

Sponsored visitors

For visitors who need access to MIT services and resources via Kerberos (including Libraries' electronic resources), a faculty member can sponsor them through Atlas. 

If a DLC wishes to sponsor a visitor for physical borrowing privileges, they should complete the Borrowing Privileges Registration form. The DLC will need to attach an e-signed sponsorship letter to the form submission. The letter should contain:

  • Name of the person being sponsored

  • Confirmation of sponsorship by DLC

  • Name and contact information of the individual sponsor from the DLC for the account

  • Acknowledgement that the sponsor takes financial responsibility for the sponsored account if the user should leave MIT with outstanding loans 

  • An expiration date for the sponsored account (between 1 month and 1 year)

  • A signature/e-signature from the sponsor

Privileges may be renewed by emailing an updated sponsor letter to circulation(@)mit.edu prior to expiration.

Summer Programs (MSRP, Knight Fellows, Engineering Design Workshop and others)

To get library borrowing cards, program staff can submit a request via email to the Hayden Library Access Services Manager. Please include full names of participants, name and DLC of the program, and dates the program will run. Summer program participants will need to visit the Hayden Library service desk to pick up their borrowing cards.

Whitehead Employees

Whitehead employees may register for borrowing privileges by completing the Borrowing Privileges Registration form.

Wellesley College

Wellesley students, faculty, and staff may register for borrowing privileges by completing the Borrowing Privileges Registration form.