Policies Governing Access to Collections, Borrowing, and Use
General Terms Governing Use of Materials
The Yale University Library, as one of the world’s leading research libraries, collects, organizes, preserves, and provides access to and services for a rich and unique record of human thought and creativity. Through its web sites, the Library offers public access to a range of its collections through online exhibitions, archival finding aids, digital repositories, and the online public access catalog. For information on appropriate uses of our licensed electronic resources, please see E-Resources Access and Use policy.
Yale University provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes only. The Library endeavors when possible to provide accurate factual information about copyright owners and related matters in catalog records, finding aids, and other texts that accompany collections or individual items that may assist you in making necessary legal determinations. Please contact copyright.librarian@yale.edu if you have helpful information about any material included in these collections or if you believe the web site has not properly attributed your work or has used your material without necessary authorization.
Access to Collections, Borrowing, and Use
Library hours and access may shift on short notice in response to weather or other circumstances. See Visit and Study.
Borrower Responsibilities
- Borrowers are responsible for library materials charged out to them until they are received by the library.
- Borrowers are prohibited by Library policy from lending their library card to others.
- Borrowers are prohibited by Library policy from borrowing library materials for another person. Faculty members may have a proxy charge materials to their account. Please contact the Privileges Office for more information.
- Yale University students, faculty and staff are responsible for maintaining current contact information with their School’s Registrar or Departmental Business Office.
- Non-Yale library cardholders are responsible for maintaining current contact information in My Account and upon renewal of library privileges.
- Borrowers who abuse Library borrowing privileges may have their privileges suspended throughout the Yale University Library. Examples of abuse of library borrowing privileges include but are not limited to delinquency in returning materials by stated due dates, NOT paying replacement bills, NOT responding to recall notices, returning library materials even after replacement bills have been issued, and mutilation or damage of library materials.
- Fines, replacement fees and processing fees are regularly assessed for late materials. More information is available on fines and blocks on patron accounts.
Fines and Blocked Accounts
- It is the responsibility of the borrower to return or renew an item by the due date.
- All library cardholders may be assessed fines for various reasons, including books returned late. For details, please refer to the Borrowing and Circulation Guide.
- There are maximum numbers of materials that can be borrowed and fines. Once a maximum is reached or a recalled item is not returned the library may block borrowing privileges. For details, please refer to the Borrowing and Circulation Guide.
- If you have a question about a fine or blocked account, please contact the Privileges Office at askyalelibrary@yale.edu or by phone (203) 432-1775.
Notices to Borrowers
You will receive item available, recall (new due date), overdue notices, and fine/fee billing notices via e-mail from library.notices@yale.edu. These notices are sent as a courtesy. We encourage all library users to check their library accounts regularly to manage recalls and due dates.
- Yale University faculty, staff and students with Yale IDs: If you have a new email address, be sure to update your information with your department administrative or business office.
- Users with Library-issued IDs: Update your email address with the Privileges Office.
Reusing Material
Yale University makes no warranty that your distribution, reproduction or other use of these materials will be non-infringing. You are solely responsible for making legal assessments regarding the use of an item and securing any necessary permissions. The written permission of the copyright owners and/or holders of other rights (such as publicity and/or privacy rights) is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use or other statutory exemptions.
Email copyright.librarian@yale.edu or specific collections for additional assistance.