Things to know about visiting spaces and using materials
Visitors are welcome to Library buildings for research and study during regular operating hours. Different library locations hold different kinds of collections, and all have places to read and study.
Some buildings have restrictions:
- Access to Brown, Clemons, Fine Arts, and Shannon libraries are restricted to current UVA students/faculty/staff after 10:00pm on the days they close after 10:00pm (varies by library). See all Library hours.
- The Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library is open to the public, but has its own system for requesting materials. Plan a visit to Special Collections.
- Visiting researchers not affiliated with UVA can have access to Library materials after filling out a brief form and showing a photo ID issued by a government agency or employer.
Reference services & using materials
- Reference assistance is available in Library buildings.
- Visitors 16 years of age and older may register for a UVA Library card. Photo ID is required to register, but you can begin the process online. Once registered, you may request and check out materials owned by the UVA Library.
- If there are materials you want but we do not have, visit your local public library — you may have them or be able to request them through their interlibrary loan system.
- Community patrons may borrow up to 25 items at a time for one month unless otherwise indicated:
- Community patrons may check out CDs and other sound recordings from the Music Library for a week.
- Community patrons may check out two DVDs (or other videos) at a time from Clemons Library for a week, with one renewal.
- View a full list of circulation privileges.
- UVA Library, as a federal depository library, makes government information in all formats available for use by anyone. The Library use policy applies.
- Community patron accounts may be deleted after 4 years of inactivity. If your account is deleted, we are happy to register you again when you next visit a UVA Library location.
Register for a UVA Library card
Access to research databases
The research databases the Library subscribes to are available from public computer terminals in Charles L. Brown Science & Engineering Library and Clemons.
- Please be aware that the number of computers is limited and priority is given to students doing research.
- If a computer is available, desk staff will ask to see a library card or photo ID, then can log you in.
- You are encouraged to bring your own laptop or computing device.
- The free wireless network (UVA Guest) is available at all UVA locations.
- All patrons are expected to abide by our library use policy and database access policy.
Attending programs and exhibits
- The Library's exhibitions are free and open to the public.
- The Mary and David Harrison Institute has a major exhibit every year on the main floor of the Harrison/Small building, plus rotating exhibits of special collections materials downstairs.
- Library programs are also open to the public and individual libraries host programs during community events such as the Festival of the Book and Garden Week. There are also Library programs during Reunions and Family Weekend.