At Tulane University Libraries, general collection items such as books and physical media can be borrowed at the main Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, the Rudolph Matas Library of the Health Sciences, and the Math Library.
To check out materials from Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, users will need one of the following:
- A Splash Card is a Tulane ID required for active faculty, staff, and students.
- An Alumni Card is needed for any former Tulane student to have borrowing privileges, and these are obtained from the Tulane Alumni Office.
- A TU/LU Card is for Loyola undergraduates to borrow from Howard-Tilton.
- A CALL Card is for faculty and graduate students from New Orleans universities to borrow from Howard-Tilton.
- A LOUIS Card is for faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students from Louisiana universities to borrow from Howard-Tilton.
- A Subscriber Card is for members of the public to borrow from Howard-Tilton only and cannot be used to access online databases off-campus.
- A Willow School student ID is for enrolled students at the Willow High School.
Choose your Affiliation
| Book Loan Period | 1 Semester |
| Borrow Non-circulating Journals | No |
| Cost of Membership | N/A |
| Number of Items Allowed | 50 |
| Number of Book Renewals Allowed | 3 |
| Borrow Reserve Materials | Yes |
| Borrow Tech Equipment | Yes |
| Borrow Circulating DVDs | Yes - 2 Weeks; Allowed 5 at a time |
| Borrow Circulating CDs | Yes - 4 Weeks; Allowed 7 at a time |
| Assigned Carrels | No |
| Book Loan Period | 1 year |
| Borrow Non-circulating Journals | Yes - 2 Days |
| Cost of Membership | N/A |
| Number of Items Allowed | 100 |
| Number of Book Renewals Allowed | 3 |
| Borrow Reserve Materials | Yes |
| Borrow Tech Equipment | Yes |
| Borrow Circulating DVDs | Yes - 2 Weeks; Allowed 5 at a time |
| Borrow Circulating CDs | Yes - 4 Weeks; Allowed 7 at a time |
| Assigned Carrels | No |
| Book Loan Period | 1 year |
| Borrow Non-circulating Journals | Yes |
| Cost of Membership | N/A |
| Number of Items Allowed | 100 |
| Number of Book Renewals Allowed | 3 |
| Borrow Reserve Materials | Yes |
| Borrow Tech Equipment | Yes |
| Borrow Circulating DVDs | Yes - 2 Weeks; Allowed 5 at a time |
| Borrow Circulating CDs | Yes - 4 Weeks; Allowed 7 at a time |
| Assigned Carrels | Yes - Via Library Administration Office |
| Book Loan Period | 4 weeks |
| Borrow Non-circulating Journals | No |
| Cost of Membership | N/A |
| Number of Items Allowed | 50 |
| Number of Book Renewals Allowed | 3 |
| Borrow Reserve Materials | Yes |
| Borrow Tech Equipment | Yes |
| Borrow Circulating DVDs | Yes - 2 Weeks; Allowed 5 at a time |
| Borrow Circulating CDs | Yes - 4 Weeks; Allowed 7 at a time |
| Assigned Carrels | No |
| Book Loan Period | 4 weeks |
| Borrow Non-circulating Journals | No |
| Cost of Membership | No fee; Must have alumni card from Tulane Alumni Office. |
| Number of Items Allowed | 25 |
| Number of Book Renewals Allowed | 3 |
| Borrow Reserve Materials | No |
| Borrow Tech Equipment | No |
| Borrow Circulating DVDs | Yes - 2 Weeks; Allowed 5 at a time |
| Borrow Circulating CDs | Yes - 4 Weeks; Allowed 7 at a time |
| Assigned Carrels | No |
| Book Loan Period | 1 year |
| Borrow Non-circulating Journals | Yes |
| Cost of Membership | N/A |
| Number of Items Allowed | 50 |
| Number of Book Renewals Allowed | 3 |
| Borrow Reserve Materials | Yes |
| Borrow Tech Equipment | Yes |
| Borrow Circulating DVDs | Yes - 2 Weeks; Allowed 5 at a time |
| Borrow Circulating CDs | Yes - 4 Weeks; Allowed 7 at a time |
| Assigned Carrels | No |
| Book Loan Period | 4 weeks |
| Borrow Non-circulating Journals | No |
| Cost of Membership | N/A. Need a valid card, issued at Check-Out Desk |
| Number of Items Allowed | 25 |
| Number of Book Renewals Allowed | 3 |
| Borrow Reserve Materials | Yes |
| Borrow Tech Equipment | Yes |
| Borrow Circulating DVDs | No |
| Borrow Circulating CDs | No |
| Assigned Carrels | No |
| Book Loan Period | 4 weeks |
| Borrow Non-circulating Journals | No |
| Cost of Membership | $250 annual fee |
| Number of Items Allowed | 25 |
| Number of Book Renewals Allowed | 3 |
| Borrow Reserve Materials | No |
| Borrow Tech Equipment | No |
| Borrow Circulating DVDs | Yes - 1 week; Allowed 3 at a time |
| Borrow Circulating CDs | Yes - 1 week; Allowed 5 at a time |
| Assigned Carrels | No |
| Book Loan Period | 4 weeks |
| Borrow Non-circulating Journals | No |
| Cost of Membership | Agreement with School |
| Number of Items Allowed | 10 |
| Number of Book Renewals Allowed | None - Can return books and recheck out for another 4 weeks |
| Borrow Reserve Materials | Yes |
| Borrow Tech Equipment | Yes |
| Borrow Circulating DVDs | No - In-house use only |
| Borrow Circulating CDs | No - In-house use only |
| Assigned Carrels | No |
| Book Loan Period | 4 weeks |
| Borrow Non-circulating Journals | No |
| Cost of Membership | N/A. Must have card issued by home library and barcode issued by Check-Out Desk |
| Number of Items Allowed | 25 |
| Number of Book Renewals Allowed | 3 |
| Borrow Reserve Materials | No |
| Borrow Tech Equipment | No |
| Borrow Circulating DVDs | 1 week; Allowed 3 items at a time |
| Borrow Circulating CDs | 1 week; Allowed 5 items at a time |
| Assigned Carrels | No |
| Book Loan Period | 4 weeks |
| Borrow Non-circulating Journals | No |
| Cost of Membership | Must have card issued by home library and barcode issued by Check-Out Desk |
| Number of Items Allowed | 25 |
| Number of Book Renewals Allowed | 3 |
| Borrow Reserve Materials | No |
| Borrow Tech Equipment | No |
| Borrow Circulating DVDs | 1 week; Allowed 3 items at a time |
| Borrow Circulating CDs | 1 week; Allowed 5 items at a time |
| Assigned Carrels | No |
| Book Loan Period | 4 weeks |
| Borrow Non-circulating Journals | No |
| Cost of Membership | N/A. Must have card issued by home library and barcode issued by Check-Out Desk |
| Number of Items Allowed | 25 |
| Number of Book Renewals Allowed | 3 |
| Borrow Reserve Materials | No |
| Borrow Tech Equipment | No |
| Borrow Circulating DVDs | 1 week; Allowed 3 items at a time |
| Borrow Circulating CDs | 1 week; Allowed 5 items at a time |
| Assigned Carrels | No |
| Book Loan Period | 4 weeks |
| Borrow Non-circulating Journals | No |
| Cost of Membership | Card issued by the library |
| Number of Items Allowed | 25 |
| Number of Book Renewals Allowed | 3 |
| Borrow Reserve Materials | No |
| Borrow Tech Equipment | No |
| Borrow Circulating DVDs | No |
| Borrow Circulating CDs | No |
| Assigned Carrels | No |
Alternate Faculty Borrowing Cards
Alternate Faculty Borrowing Cards allow Tulane faculty members to designate assistants to check out materials to their library account. To obtain an Alternate Faculty Borrowing Card, the faculty member must come to the Check Out Desk in person to verify their identity to anyone at the Howard-Tilton Memorial Library Check Out Desk, fill out and sign a request form, and receive the card. Each item checked out with the Alternate Faculty Borrowing Card is charged to the faculty member's library account. Alternate Faculty Borrowing Cards do not expire and may be passed to other student or graduate assistants. The faculty member remains fully responsible for all books checked out with the card and responsible for recalling the card when the surrogate leaves Tulane.
Renewing or Returning an Item
Whether at the main library or the Matas Library downtown, books may be renewed online or in person at the Check Out Desk if the item is not overdue or has not been requested by another library user. Library users are limited to three consecutive renewals per book. High school students with borrowing privileges are not allowed to renew. Books may not be renewed over the phone or via email.
Renewal of Interlibrary Loan Materials:
Interlibrary loan users general may request one renewal for each item they borrow, unless the lending library stipulates that no renewals will be accepted. Use ILLiad to request a loan renewal by viewing active requests and clicking the Renew Item button. Requests should be made at least two days before the item is due.
01 Go to Library Account
02 Sign in
03 Go to Loans
Go to Loans, select the items to renew, and click Renew Selected.
When the library is open, a book may be returned to the book bins located just inside the entrance to the building. Receipts for returning items are available only for items returned directly at the Check-Out Desk. Reserve books must be returned to the Check Out Desk. When the library is closed, a book depository is available to the right of the main entrance. However, reserve books are still subject to fines if not returned to the Check Out Desk. Do not return a checked-out book directly to the shelf.
Library Account vs Off Campus Login vs Interlibrary Loan: Read detailed information about the difference between off campus access and Library Account and Interlibrary Loan accounts in this Library Logins guide.
Appealing a Fee
The library does not charge general overdue fines. It does charge reserve fines, recall fines, and fees for lost, damaged or missing items. Should a user wish to appeal one of these charges, they should first speak with the supervisor on duty at the Check Out Desk. If the problem is not resolved, the user may fill out an appeal form. Appeal forms are available online and at the desk. Appeal forms must be filled out completely and accurately and include any documentation that will help the Appeals Board make its decision. The Appeals Board is comprised of three librarians and/or staff members from the various divisions of the library and the Head of Access Services. The Appeals Board meets once a month (when there are appeals to be heard). The board decisions are sent to the user using a decision form.
Access
The general microfilm collection, newspapers, books, and music scores supported by Media Services are available in the publicly accessible shelving during regular hours for Howard-Tilton Memorial Library.
Recordings, film, the Latin American Library microfilm collection and technology hardware circulated exclusively through Media Services at the 6th floor service desk are available during Media Services regular hours.
Accessibility
Tulane Libraries strive to nurture an inclusive environment for all library visitors and personnel. The 6th floor service desk and most work areas including the larger format overhead scanner, digital microfilm readers, and select viewing stations are wheelchair accessible. A work station with assistive technology is located in the first floor Learning Commons.
Descriptive text is preferred for films purchased on physical formats or licensed for streaming access. Closed captions is a minimum requirement.
Please visit Library Accessibility Information for additional details about Tulane Libraries' commitment to an accessible library experience.
Reciprocal Borrowing
Through reciprocal borrowing, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library can often obtain borrowing privileges for Tulane students and faculty at other libraries and lend materials directly to students and faculty from other institutions. This is possible through the programs listed below, which each have their own eligibility requirements.
LOUIS: The Louisiana Libraries Network
A LOUIS reciprocal borrowing agreement enables academic libraries within Louisiana to share resources and services such as borrowing. To participate, undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty from LOUIS member universities need to obtain a LOUIS Borrowing Card from their home library. Tulane faculty and graduate students can obtain a Borrowing Card from the Check-Out Desk on the first floor of Howard-Tilton.
OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program
This program is offered to faculty at participating institutions and provides borrowing privileges and on-site access to the collections of other participating academic research libraries. It is not a part of the OCLC Interlibrary Loan service. Faculty must first acquire an OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program card from their home library to make use of the privileges at another participating institution. See this list of participating institutions.
TU/LU (Tulane/Loyola Undergraduate Cooperative Borrowing Project)
This program is for undergraduate students at Tulane University and Loyola University of New Orleans. It covers borrowing at Tulane's Howard-Tilton Memorial Library and at Loyola's J. Edgar and Louise S. Monroe Library. To participate, undergraduate students at the two universities need to obtain a TU/LU card from their home library. Tulane undergraduate students can obtain a TU/LU card from the Check-Out Desk on the first floor of Howard-Tilton. The business, medical, and law libraries at Tulane and the law library at Loyola are not participating in this project, and the TU/LU card is not honored at these libraries. TU/LU participants are provided with the loan periods from their home libraries and are responsible for any fees and fines associated with overdue or lost books.
Willow High School
Tulane has established a long-term commitment to and partnership with the Willow School. As part of this partnership, the Howard-Tilton Memorial Library works with the librarian and teachers at Willow High School to offer borrowing privileges and other services to Willow students in grades 9-12. Willow students are allowed to access the building Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 8:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Willow students are allowed to check out up to 25 books at one time. They are allowed to keep these books for four weeks.