Responding to COVID-19

You can chat and email with us daily! Mon-Thu 7am-7pm, Fri 7am-6pm, Sat 11am-6pm, and Sun 1pm-6pm. But due to COVID-19, all University Libraries buildings are currently closed, and we're not accepting any new hold/pickup or scanning requests for physical items. See details on library changes and support.

Check out & renew items

Alert announcement

You can't check out items right now since all our buildings are closed.

If you have items checked out and are a current student, faculty, or staff member, please keep them until further notice, including interlibrary loans. We're extending due dates and waiving late fees.

If you are no longer affiliated with the university or are leaving town, return books to the book drop outside the Main Library. To return technology, contact us to make an appointment. If you are not in Tucson, email us to discuss options: library@arizona.edu.

Woman looking at book from the hold shelf

Check out and renew materials

Use your CatCard to check out books, journals, and more.

We will automatically renew materials as long as someone has not requested a hold and your library account is in good standing. You can also renew interlibrary loan items if allowed by the lending library.

Type of material Initial loan period Maximum loan period
Books, journals, maps, music scores, government documents 21 days

9 months for undergrads and community users (level 1)

3 years for community users (level 2) and Arizona businesses

6 years for faculty, staff, grad students, and honor students
Media (VHS, DVDs, CDs, LPs, and collected works) 7 days 12 weeks

UA faculty, graduate students, staff and affiliates may borrow up to 250 items. UA undergraduate students may borrow up to 75 items. Some materials can only be used in the library, including Special Collections, reference, current journals, newspapers, microfilm, and atlases.

See borrowing privileges for non-UA affiliates.

Check out technology

Borrow technology for up to three days using your CatCard.

You can’t renew technology online, but we allow in-person renewals at the Ask Us desk on a case-by-case basis depending on availability.

Hold items

You can place a hold using express retrieval. When signed in, select the "Request" option within the "Find It" section. You can choose the library where you want to pick up your item. There are a few items that can't be held (e.g. maps, music CD box sets).

If you need an item that is already checked out, consider using interlibrary loan for faster access. We'll send you an email when it is ready for pickup. There are a few items that can't be held (e.g. maps and music CD box sets).

Apply for a library card

Not affiliated with the UA? Arizona residents and affiliates at some other institutions can apply for a library card.

Faculty and staff may also apply for a proxy card that allows teaching and research assistants to check out materials on their behalf.