Who is eligible?
- Members of the UAB community with a valid UAB ONE Card (students, staff and faculty)
- UAB alumni
- Current students/staff/faculty from institutions in the state of Alabama with a photo ID
- Courtesy card holders
What is required to check out library materials?
To check out library materials, a UAB ONE Card or a valid photo ID and/or some other proof of affiliation is required. Some examples of proof of affiliation include but are not limited to official letters, business cards, and tuition statements. Unexpired courtesy cards are also permissible.
Who may be considered eligible to apply for a courtesy card and what privileges do they grant?
- Any citizen of Alabama can access a courtesy card upon request. An Alabama driver’s license or other proof of residency is required.
- Advanced placement students from local high schools upon the request of the school they attend. The courtesy card will be valid through the end of the academic year during which the card is issued.
- UAB students not currently enrolled in classes but trying to fulfill a course requirement may be issued a courtesy card upon the request of their advisor, department head, or instructor of record. The courtesy card will be valid for the school term during which the card is issued.
- Temporary, part-time, or adjunct faculty who have not been issued UAB ONE Cards may be issued courtesy cards.
- Students currently enrolled in other Alabama colleges or universities that have not been provided a school ID card, but can show proof of enrollment.
Please note that courtesy cards are for checking out printed materials. They do not, however, grant remote access to our licensed databases, the ability to check out technology equipment (laptops, projectors, DVD players, virtual reality headsets, etc.), nor 24-5 access to the libraries. Courtesy card holders also will need to request guest accounts for using desktop computers.
Courtesy card holders can visit UAB Libraries during visitor hours and must be buzzed in by a UAB Libraries employee.
For further information call the Sterne HUB at 205.934.4338 or the Lister Hill HUB at 205.934.2230.
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Fines
With the exception of Interlibrary Loan materials, UAB Libraries currently does not assign fines or fees for late printed materials; rather, we ask that Blazers and community patrons adhere to due dates out of respect for UAB Libraries users. Fines for other equipment (explained below) are determined based on item value.
Fines can be paid online or at the HUB desk at Sterne or Lister Hill with a credit or debit card, check, or BlazerBucks. All checks should be made payable to UAB Libraries.
Mervyn H. Sterne Library
Fines for Overdue, Damaged, and Lost Items Audiovisual Materials $1.00 per day per item or a maximum of $25 per item Study Carrel Keys $0.05 per minute per key or a maximum of $50 per key Damaged Materials Cost of restoration (item-by-item assessment) plus a $25 processing fee per item damaged. Lost Materials $40 flat item fee, plus a $25 processing fee per item.
Lost key replacement cost is $60.Equipment $1.00 per day. Laptops, projectors and other equipment valued at $500+ $25.00 per day Lister Hill Library
Fines for Overdue, Damaged, and Lost Items Equipment $1.00 per day Laptops, projectors and other equipment valued at $500+ $25.00 per day Test Prep and School Collection $1.00 per day Paying for lost or damaged materials
Damaged or lost materials will be billed at the current market value of the item. The payment can be made at the HUB service desk with a check, credit or debit card, or BlazerBucks.
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Holds on Checked Out Items
A hold may be placed on any circulating item that is available or checked out. If the item is checked out, when returned, you will be notified and given seven days to pick up the item. If you do not do so within seven days and no one else has requested a hold, the item is re-shelved. A hold may be placed in person at the HUB at Sterne or Lister Hill, or online by clicking the “Request” button located within the item’s descriptive record. For questions, call the HUB at Lister Hill (205.934.2230) or Sterne (205.934.4338).
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Returning Items
Books may be returned at either library location.
Lister Hill Library
Return books to the HUB or to a book drop. A book drop is located in front of the Lister Hill Library on University Boulevard near Volker Hall.
Sterne Library
Return books to the HUB or to a book drop. Book drops are located at both entrance doors of the Sterne Library.
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Renewing Items
Items may be renewed in person or by telephone at the HUB at Lister Hill (205.934.2230) or Sterne (205.934.4338), or online using the My Library Account area of this website. When renewing by telephone, please have the titles of the items available. Please refer to the Circulation and Loan Policies section below for renewal policies.
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Circulation and Loan Policies
Lister Hill Library and Sterne Library
The number of books you can check out at one time depends on the patron category to which you belong:
- UAB Faculty: 100 items;
- UAB Students: 50 items;
- UAB Staff: 50 items;
- Other Borrowers: 10 items.
Lister Hill Library
Patron Category Loan Period Renewals Undergraduate Student - UAB 28 days 2 Graduate Student - UAB 63 days 1 Faculty - UAB 183 days 1 Staff - UAB 28 days 2 Courtesy Card Holder 28 days 1 Loan periods based on type of material are as follows:
Type of material Loan period Renewals Circulating books 28 days 2 Reference books 3 hours, library use only 0 Laptops 7 days 1 Periodicals Library use only Media, DVDs, CDs 28 days 1 Equipment: Video projector 7 days 0 Equipment: Headphones 3 hours, library use only 0 Equipment: Microphone 3 hours, library use only 0 Equipment: Flash drive 3 days Equipment: Dry erase markers 3 hours, library use only 0 Equipment: Mac & PC connectors 3 hours, library use only 0
Mervyn H. Sterne Library
Patron Category Loan Period Renewals Undergraduate Student - UAB 28 days 2 Graduate Student - UAB 63 days 1 Faculty - UAB 183 days 1 Staff - UAB 28 days 2 Courtesy Card Holder 28 days 1 Loan periods based on type of material are as follows:
Type of material Loan period Renewals Juvenile books 14 days 1 Textbook collection 14 days 1 Café collection 28 days 1 Reference/Bound periodicals Library use only Compact Discs, DVDs, Music Recordings, Spoken Recordings, Videocassettes, Videodiscs, and Motion Pictures 7 days 1 Compact Discs and Computer Disks that accompany books Based on loan period of books 1 Audiocassettes, Audiotapes, Charts, Film Loops, Filmstrips, Games, Kits, Models, Slides, and Transparencies 14 days 1 Laptops 7 days 0 Equipment: Video projector 7 days 0 Equipment: Mac & PC connectors 3 hours: Library use only 0 iPhone & iPad 3 hours 0 Equipment: Headphones 3 hours: Library use only 0 Equipment: Dry erase markers 3 hours: Library use only 0