Faculty, students, and staff at the University at Albany benefit directly from Library memberships which provide access to many other libraries in the Capital District region, in New York State, and throughout the United States and Canada. Through these programs, scholars have other sources for satisfying their immediate needs for materials not owned by the University Libraries, in addition to relying on the services of Interlibrary Loan.
Before borrowing cards are issued for any of the programs below, the requestor's borrowing record at the University Libraries will be verified to be current and clear of obligations that block borrowing privileges. Please note that failure to return items to reciprocal institutions will result in blocks on borrowing privileges at the University at Albany Libraries.
Regional
The Capital District Library Council (CDLC) sponsors the Direct Access Program (DAP). Upon presentation of a CDLC card, an individual may borrow from or use over fifty academic, public, law, medical, and technical libraries located in the Capital District. To receive a CDLC card, inquire at the University, Science, or Dewey Library Circulation Desk . For more information on the CDLC Direct Access Program and the lending categories and restrictions of its member libraries, consult its Web site. The University Libraries offers courtesy borrowing privileges to borrowers affiliated with an academic library participating in the CDLC DAP; cards issued by public and special libraries do not currently qualify the holder for borrowing privileges.
State
The State University of New York sponsors the Open Access Program, and most of the 64 SUNY affiliated institutions of higher education participate in the program. Upon presentation of a valid State University I.D. from one's home campus, faculty, students, and staff are entitled to use of the collections and facilities which the library offers to its own community, including borrowing privileges. A brochure listing program guidelines and participants is available at the University Library Circulation Desk. The University Libraries offers courtesy borrowing privileges to Open Access Program affiliates.
University at Albany faculty, staff, and students may be eligible to borrow material from the New York State Library (NYSL). For more information on the State Library, its services and collections, and borrowing eligibility, consult its Web site. The University Libraries does not offer privileges to members of the public using their NYSL card.
National
The OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program allows faculty members of participating institutions borrowing privileges and/or on-site access to the collections of some of the most important research libraries in the U.S. and Canada. Program cards are available at the Circulation Desk in the University Library. The University Libraries offers courtesy borrowing privileges to OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrower affiliates.
The Center for Research Libraries, Chicago, IL, has collections exceeding 5.5 million volumes. The Center has a collection that complements and supplements the collections of the major research libraries of North America. Holdings of particular note are foreign dissertations; foreign newspapers; official publications of all U.S. states and territories and their departments and agencies; and official publications of foreign governments. Materials owned by the Center are available by placing orders through Interlibrary Loan. The Center's collections may also be used on-site. For a more descriptive list of collections held by the Center, contact Interlibrary Loan, 442-3613, or Reference, 442-3552.