How to Borrow, Request, or Renew Materials at Columbia University Libraries — and Get Research Help

Columbia University Libraries handles borrowing, requesting, and renewing through a single "Borrow, Request, Renew" entry point on its homepage, and research questions go through the "Ask A Librarian" service. Both are reachable from the "I Want To" menu, which also links to "Find Libraries Open Now," alumni resources, and workshops. The steps below describe what each pathway is for and what to expect; exact loan periods, renewal limits, and eligibility rules are set by the Libraries and should be confirmed on the linked pages rather than assumed.

Start from the "I Want To" menu

The homepage organizes most tasks under a short action list. The relevant entries are:

• Find Libraries Open Now — check which of Columbia's locations are currently open before traveling.
• Use the Libraries — the umbrella entry for access and use policies.
• Borrow, Request, Renew — the pathway for loans, holds, and renewals.
• Ask A Librarian — the pathway for research questions.
• Access Alumni Resources — continuing access options after graduation.

If you only remember one thing: borrowing tasks and research help are deliberately separated, so pick the entry that matches your question.

Borrow, request, or renew

Borrowing

Use "Borrow, Request, Renew" when you want to check out physical material. Before you go, confirm two things:

1. The library is open — use "Find Libraries Open Now." Columbia's system spans multiple locations, and hours differ by site.
2. You are eligible to borrow — borrowing privileges depend on your affiliation (for example, current student, faculty, or alumni). The Libraries' access pages state who qualifies; don't assume alumni borrowing matches student borrowing.

Expected result: you leave with the item and a due date. Record the due date — renewal is not automatic.

Requesting

Requesting covers material you can't simply pull off the shelf: items held at another location, items already checked out, or items in off-site storage. The request is placed through the same "Borrow, Request, Renew" pathway, and you'll be notified when the item is ready.

Common snag: a request can fail if your account has blocks or if the item is restricted to a specific patron group. Check your account status first.

Renewing

Renew through the same pathway, ideally before the due date rather than after. Two things determine whether a renewal succeeds:

• Whether the item has reached its renewal limit.
• Whether another patron has placed a request on it — a hold typically blocks renewal.

Verification step: after renewing, confirm the new due date in your account. If the renewal didn't take, return the item or contact library staff before it goes overdue.

Getting research help with Ask A Librarian

"Ask A Librarian" is the route for questions that aren't about transactions — finding sources, shaping a search strategy, or locating a specific collection. The homepage's news items show the depth of what staff work with, from the Al Jaffee Papers and the Frances Perkins papers to the W.W. Norton & Company records and the Historical Maps Collection (1500–1900).

Use it when:

• You know your topic but not which database or collection to search.
• You need help navigating a specific archive or special collection.
• You want guidance on citation or source evaluation.

What to prepare: your research question in one or two sentences, the course or project it's for, and any sources you've already tried. That turns a vague query into an answerable one.

Learning opportunities: workshops and drop-in help

The Libraries run Public Programs, Exhibitions, Workshops, and Drop-In Help under "Events & Training." The homepage describes a concrete example: a 15-minute introductory session on how to use your libraries, offered September 2–3 and September 8–11, covering collections, expert staff, study spaces, and trainings — no registration required.

This is the lowest-commitment way to learn the borrowing and requesting workflow if the written instructions leave you unsure. Drop-in formats suit people who learn by asking rather than reading.

After graduation: alumni resources

"Access Alumni Resources" is the entry point for continuing access once you're no longer a current affiliate. Alumni access is a distinct category from student or faculty access, so check this page before assuming your current login will keep working. If you're near graduation and depend on library access for ongoing work, review this early rather than after your status changes.

Quick reference

What to verify before you rely on it

The homepage confirms these pathways exist and points to the services, but it does not state loan periods, renewal counts, fine amounts, or which patron groups may borrow. Confirm those on the individual service pages, and confirm current hours through "Find Libraries Open Now" on the day you plan to visit — hours change, and a closed location is the most common reason a borrowing trip fails.