Borrowing Privileges for Visitors

Visitor Pass Options

Visitors may sign up for a Yale Library account to use and/or borrow from our general collections with a range of free and paid options. Visitor accounts are available to anyone, regardless of connection or affiliation with Yale.

To set up your account, call (203) 432-1775, or visit the Sterling Library service desk during business hours (hours are subject to change so please check the calendar before planning your visit):

Monday - Thursday: 8:30 am - 6 pm
Friday: 8:30 am - 5 pm
Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday: 12 pm - 6 pm

Pre-registration is encouraged for groups of all sizes. You must sign up for a new account even if you have had one in the past. To begin the process, please complete the privileges pre-registration form. Contact Ask Yale Library with questions if you need further assistance.

Payment methods: We accept credit cards (American Express, Visa, or Mastercard) and checks. An e-pay option is available. We do not accept cash.

Pass Options	Rates	Books/Loans
Desk Pass	One week, free, option to renew	20, for in-library use
Access Pass	$20/week or $40/month *	20, for in-library use
Borrowing-Basic	$200/3 months or $750/year	25, for checkout
Borrowing-Basic+	$850/year (annual rate only)	60, for checkout

* Access Pass is free for students, staff, and faculty from other universities, and SHARES institutions with a valid university or museum ID card.

Pass Options

Desk Pass

Staff retrieval of up to 20 items per day from Sterling Library stacks and the Library Shelving Facility **
Entry to Sterling Library and Bass Library up to 6 pm
No borrowing privileges or stack access

Access Pass

Staff retrieval of up to 20 items per day from Sterling Library stacks and the Library Shelving Facility **
Entry to Sterling Library and Bass Library after 6 pm (ID is required to enter the building)
Access to the Sterling Library stacks
No borrowing privileges
Onsite access to electronic resources

** Use “Request for Pickup” option in Quicksearch and select service desk in Sterling or Bass as a pickup location. Allow two business days for delivery of items between libraries.

Borrowing: Basic Pass

Book loan period: 2 months
Number of books/loans: 25
Entry to Sterling Library and Bass Library after 6 pm (ID is required to enter the building)
Access to the Sterling Library stacks
Check out materials from any library, excludes Yale Film Archive
Onsite access to electronic resources

Borrowing: Basic+ Pass

Book loan period: 2 months
Number of books/loans: 60
Entry to Sterling Library and Bass Library after 6 pm (ID is required to enter the building)
Access to the Sterling Library stacks
Check out materials from any library, excludes Yale Film Archive
Onsite access to electronic resources

Access to Electronic Resources (Databases, Online Journals, etc.)

Access to library-licensed electronic resources is contractually limited to currently employed faculty and staff and currently enrolled students of Yale and its immediately affiliated institutions. On-campus visitors from other Eduroam-affiliated institutions can select this network by logging in with their home university ID.

Visitors may access e-resources on a limited number of computers in the Sterling Library nave if they have an Access Pass or higher. Call (203) 432-1775, or visit the Sterling service desk for more information and to set up access.