Visitor Information

Who may obtain a library-issued visitor borrowing card?

  • Indiana residents (with proof of residency)
  • Spouses of West Lafayette faculty, staff or students
  • Faculty at an Indiana ALI institution, Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA)-participating institution, or OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program participants
  • Faculty, staff, or students from Purdue regional campuses
  • Purdue conference attendees
  • Purdue continuing education students
  • Alumni from West Lafayette campus
  • Current students from other Indiana colleges or universities
  • Current students from participating Big Ten Academic Alliance institutions

Library-issued visitor borrowing cards only provide on-site check-out privileges; they do not include access to licensed databases, nor do they include access to our Interlibrary Loan services. With the exception of proxies, visiting patrons may only have one active library card at a time. The patron to whom a card is issued is the only person authorized to use it; patrons should not lend their cards to others.

Where can I apply for a visitor’s borrowing card?

Starting fall 2020, we are no longer providing paper applications. All applications must be submitted online.

After submitting the online application, for card service Monday through Friday 8am-5pm, you may come to any Purdue campus library. For service outside those times, please come to the Library of Engineering & Science (inside the Wilmeth Active Learning Center) Sunday through Thursday 5pm to midnight. Hours may vary during breaks and holidays. Visitor cards are valid for one year and may be renewed upon request by patrons in good standing..

Patrons are responsible for:

  • Having an active visitor card to check out any material
  • Renewing or returning all material by the due date
  • Reading and responding to all library notices promptly
  • Notifying the Libraries if their visitor card is lost or stolen
  • Paying any fines or fees for late return or non-return of library materials checked out on their Visitor Card
  • Notifying the Libraries of a change in address, including e-mail
  • Contacting the libraries if material charged on their visitor card is lost or stolen

Loan Periods

We have expanded our visitor loan periods. You may check out most materials (including media, books, and journals) for 16-weeks.

Requesting Materials

Visitors may request holds for materials held in the Libraries using their visitor borrowing card number and password in Library Search. You must login to see request links. To login you will need to add four (4) zeros in front of the number on your visitor card, then add two (2) additional zeros following the card number. For example, if the number on your card is: 751700, You would enter:000075170000 in the barcode field. If you have problems logging in, or do not know your password, please contact Circulation Services at (765) 494-0369 or email circservices@purdue.edu.

E-Resources

Visitors may access many of our online resources by visiting one of our library locations and using the designated guest computers. Guest computers are located in HSSE, MATH, VETM and WALC. Please note that guests do not have access to printing. However, they may save PDFs to cloud services like Dropbox, Box, and Google Drive. For additional assistance, please visit the information desk in one of these libraries.

Renewals

We have expanded our renewals for visitors. All renewals will be automatically applied to eligible materials. Some limited loan materials are not renewable. Materials requested by other users are also not renewable. If you have questions, you may contact us:

  • Online in “My Account“
  • By phone (765) 494-0369
  • In person at the circulation desk of any Purdue West Lafayette campus library

Returning library materials

Books can be returned to any Purdue West Lafayette campus library or adjacent book drop. Items may also returned by US mail to:

Purdue University Libraries – CIRC
504 Mitch Daniels Blvd.,
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2058

Reminders are sent one week prior to the item due date. An overdue notice will be sent one day after the due date. Failure to return or renew materials within 7 days of the due date will result in the assessment of a $15 processing fee per item plus the replacement cost for each item.

For billing inquiries:

Contact Circulation Services at (765) 494-0369 or circservices@purdue.edu