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Borrow & Request: What Can I Access?

What Can I Access?

shelf of science books

Identification Requirements

Learn about the type of identification you need and whether you need to sign in to access Library spaces.

Caltech Students, Faculty, and Staff

All faculty, trustees, visiting faculty, post-docs, staff, students, and summer students must have a current Caltech ID for tap access.

Other Groups

Groups listed below only have access to Sherman Fairchild Library. Visitors will be required to fill out our Visitors Form prior to arrival and present required ID when they check-in at SFL Service Desk upon arrival. Effective Fall 2022, subject to change. 

  Access Requirement
Visiting Summer Student (must have a Caltech ID card) Caltech ID card
Caltech Affiliate & Volunteer (must have a Caltech ID card) Caltech ID card
Family Member (Faculty, Staff & Postdoc)* Caltech Library ID Card
JPL Current Full-Time Staff * JPL Badge
Retired Caltech Staff *+" Caltech Retiree ID Card
Retired JPL Staff *+ Caltech Retiree ID Card
Caltech Alumni *+" Must be registered with Alumni Office
Caltech Associates *+" Caltech Associates ID Card
Thirty Meter Telescope Staff*+ Thirty Meter Telescope Staff ID Card
Carnegie Observatories Staff*+ TBD
Huntington Library Readers *+ Huntington Reader ID Card
ArtCenter College Design (Student & Faculty) *+ ArtCenter ID Card
City of Hope Professional Staff*+ TBD
Guest Reader (Must have an active Affiliation with Accredited Colleges and Universities) *+ State Issued Government ID

Borrowing Privileges

Learn about the number of books you can check out and for how long.

Caltech Students, Staff, and Faculty

  Maximum Number of Books Loan Period for Books Renewals
Faculty / Trustee 300 365 days 3
Visiting Faculty / Postdoc / Staff 200 end of term 3
Student 100 end of term 3

 

Other Groups

Tentatively effective Fall 2022, subject to change.

  Maximum Number of Books Loan Period for Books
Visiting Summer Student (must have a Caltech ID card) 5 30 days
Caltech Affiliate & Volunteer (must have a Caltech ID card) 5 30 days
Family Member (Faculty, Staff & Postdoc)* 5 30 days
JPL Current Full-Time Staff * 10 30 days
Retired Caltech Staff *" TBD TBD
Retired JPL Staff *+ not available not available
Caltech Alumni *+" not available not available
Caltech Associates *+" not available not available
Thirty Meter Telescope Staff not available not available
Carnegie Observatories Staff TBD TBD
Huntington Library Readers *+ not available not available
ArtCenter College Design (Student & Faculty) *+ not available not available
City of Hope Professional Staff TBD TBD
Guest Reader (From Accredited Colleges and Universities) *+ not available not available

Access to Library Services, Buildings, and Resources

Caltech Students, Staff, and Faculty

 

Equipment & Laptops

Recall

Journal Access

Building Access

Faculty / Trustee

available

available

available

available

Visiting Faculty / Postdoc / Staff

available

available

available

available

Student

available

available

available

available

Visiting Summer Student

not available

available

available

available

 

Other Groups

Groups listed below only have access to Sherman Fairchild Library. Electronic resources access is only available on campus through the guest wireless network. Tentatively effective Fall 2022, subject to change.

  Equipment & Laptops Recall
Visiting Summer Student not available not available
Caltech Affiliate & Volunteer (must have a Caltech ID card) not available not available
Family Member (Faculty & Staff)* not available not available
JPL Current Full-Time Staff * not available not available
Retired Caltech Staff *" not available not available
Retired JPL Staff *+ not available not available
Caltech Alumni *+" not available not available
Caltech Associates *+" not available not available
Thirty Meter Telescope Staff *+ not available not available
Carnegie Observatories Staff *+ TBD TBD
Huntington Library Readers *+ not available not available
ArtCenter College Design (Student & Faculty) *+ not available not available
City of Hope Professional Staff *+ TBD TBD
Guest Reader (From Accredited Colleges and Universities) *+ not available not available

* 9:00 am–4:00 pm Monday–Friday only
+ Limited to five visits per month (excluding Caltech Associates) 
" Friends of the Library Membership—Must be former Caltech staff/faculty/student