Library Information & Policies

Borrowing Privileges by User Group

Undergraduate Students

Graduate Students

Faculty and Emerati Faculty

Staff

Community Borrowers

General Policies

Alumni

Guest Borrowers

Retirees

Undergraduate Student Borrowing Privileges

Obtaining a Library Card

University students use their University issued ID as their library card. If they are unable to locate their University ID, another form of photo ID is acceptable.

Loan Periods

*Honors Students are able to check out books, CDs, Maps, Music, and Government Documents until the end of the current semester.

Loan Limits

Undergraduate students can check out up to 100 University of West Georgia owned items at a time. Items ordered through GIL Express are limited by the lending library.

Course reserves items and equipment (course reserves, calculators, laptops, headphones, etc) are limited to one per library account at a time.

Graduate Students Borrowing Privileges

Obtaining a Library Card

University students, staff, and faculty use their University issued ID as their library card. If they are unable to locate their University ID, another form of photo ID is acceptable.

Loan Periods

Loan Limits

Graduate students can check out up to 100 University of West Georgia owned items at a time. Items ordered through GIL Express are limited by the lending library.

Reserves items and equipment (calculators, laptops, headphones, etc) are limited to one per library account at a time.

Loan Extension

To support graduate students working toward a thesis, comprehensive research project, or dissertation, an extension of their library privileges is available. Graduate students not currently enrolled in classes at the University of West Georgia retain full borrowing privileges until they reach 3 consecutive semesters (12 months) without enrolling. 

Faculty and Emerati Faculty Borrowing Privileges

Obtaining a Library Card

University faculty members use their University issued ID as their library card. If they are unable to locate their University ID, another form of photo ID is acceptable.

Emeriti faculty can use their existing UWG ID as their library card or, if necessary, obtain a new UWG ID from the Card Office. Emeriti faculty can also access UWG-provided databases from off-campus by logging on using their @emeriti.westga.edu account name and password. 

Loan Periods

Renewals

Faculty are asked to physically bring items in at the end of Spring semester in order to renew items for another year. Renewals online or over the phone may not be successful. 

Loan Limits

Faculty can check out up to 100 University of West Georgia owned items at a time. Items ordered through GIL Express are limited by the lending library.

Fine Exemption

University faculty are exempt from overdue fines accrued on items owned by the University of West Georgia, unless accrued on Reference items. Fines assessed for GIL items, Interlibrary loan (ILL) items, or recalled items remain on faculty library accounts and must be paid. 

Student Proxy Information

Faculty members may grant permission to a graduate assistant to check out library materials on the faculty member’s account. To have a student proxy, faculty must fill out the faculty checkout agreement form and provide a copy of their photo ID for library records. Faculty members are responsible for all items on their account and are encouraged to review their library records in order to see what materials are currently on their account.

Staff Borrowing Privileges

Obtaining a Library Card

University staff members use their University issued ID as their library card. If they are unable to locate their University ID, another form of photo ID is acceptable.

Loan Periods

Fine Exemption

University staff are exempt from overdue fines accrued on items owned by the University of West Georgia, unless accrued on Reference items. Fines assessed for GIL items, Interlibrary loan (ILL) items, or recalled items remain on faculty library accounts and must be paid. 

Community Borrowers

General Policies

Library users are responsible for all items checked out to their account and should never loan library cards or library materials to others. Community borrower library privileges continue as long as the account is used on a regular basis and privileges are not abused. Issuance of a Guest Borrower card does not guarantee access to all library facilities, materials, or services. Community Borrowers may not place requests via GIL Express or Interlibrary Loan. Online Resources are accessible in the library but not remotely. 

Community borrowers may renew materials in person, over the phone, or online through their library account. For more information on renewals, see our Renewals policy information. 

Guest borrower accounts are blocked from use if they carry fines/fees. A blocked account is unable to check new items out or renew items. For information on library fines and fees, see our Library Fines and Fees policy information. 

Alumni 

Obtaining a Library Card

Alumni status can be obtained by presenting proof of graduation from UWG and a photo ID with a current address. Once the status has been established, alumni may continue to use their UWG ID to check items out. If the patron cannot locate their UWG ID, they may use another form of photo ID to check out items.

Loan Periods

Loan Limits

Alumni may check out 7 items at a time for a period of 28 days (items may be renewed by phone).

Guest Borrowers

Obtaining a Library Card

Community members are eligible for a Guest Borrower library card if they present proof of current residence in one of the following counties: Carroll (GA), Coweta (GA), Douglas (GA), Haralson (GA), Heard (GA), Paulding (GA), Cleburne (AL), or Randolph (AL). 

High school students (grades 9-12) must have a sponsor who resides in one of the listed counties. The sponsor is responsible for any items or fines associated with the student account. Library privileges for high school students expire at the end of the academic year.

Loan Periods

Loan Limits

Library users with a guest borrower card may have up to 3 items checked out at a time for the first 6 months their card has been issued. After 6 months, up to 7 items may be checked out at a time if the library account is in good standing. 

High School students may check out up to 3 items at a time.

Retirees

Obtaining a Library Card

Retirees may either apply for a Guest Borrower card at the circulation desk or obtain a current UWG ID card from the Card Office.

Loan Periods

Loan Limits

Retirees may check out up to 7 items at a time.