Borrowing Library Materials
Ingram Library aims to provide access to all of the resources you need for your research - if we don't have it, we'll do our best to borrow it from another library. Learn more below about all the ways you can get access to library materials.
Borrowing Information
- Borrowing from Ingram Library
- GIL Express
- Interlibrary Loan
- Visiting other libraries
- Other Resource Sharing services
- Lost item search
Ingram Library provides access to hundreds of thousands of books, plus DVDs, CDs, headphones, graphing calculators, dry erase markers, and more. We also have laptops and group study rooms available for UWG students to borrow.
You can find full details on our loan periods, overdue fines, and more in our Borrowing Privileges policy.
You're welcome to browse our bookshelves. We also offer a retrieval service for those who would like to select items from the catalog and just pick them up at the front desk.
For books, this is the first place to look if Ingram Library does not own the item you need. GIL Express is a resource sharing program that allows faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students of all University System of Georgia (USG) libraries access to eligible circulating collections in the participating universities.
While this is most commonly used to request that materials from other libraries be sent to the circulation desk at Ingram Library for pick up, you may also select to have materials sent to any participating university library. Visit the USG GIL Express website for a complete description of the policies and procedures.
We recommend requesting items at least a week before you need them, but they often arrive in as little as 2-3 days. Check your university email account for a notification email when the items are available to pick up.
If no library in the USG can lend the book you need, or if you need a journal article or other type of item that is not available through GIL Express, then the next step is to request the item through InterLibrary Loan (ILL). This service borrows materials from other libraries, so we can lend them to you.
University System of Georgia Libraries
Your UWG ID card grants you access to use and borrow materials from other USG libraries. Borrowing terms are the same as they are when you request those items via GIL Express, but you may be required to fill out a visitor pass form to enter. Be sure to check the hours and visitor policies for the library you plan to visit before you go.
ARCHE Cards
The Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education (ARCHE) card grants researchers access and (sometimes limited) borrowing privileges at other academic libraries in the Atlanta metro area. Each ARCHE card is issued for only one specific library in the network, so you must get a card for EACH library outside of the USG that you intend to use. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the policies of the library you plan to visit before you go -- for example, some libraries do not allow outside users to enter during exam periods.
If you would like to request an ARCHE card, either visit the Library Front Desk or contact one of the library staff members listed below to have a card sent to you through Campus Mail or U.S. Mail. Faculty cards are issued for one year. Student Cards are issued for one semester.
Delivery Services for Distance Students (online and instructional sites)
Distance students have two options. If the library owns the item, we will supply it to you and include a postage-paid label.
If UWG does not own the item, we will request it from another library through interlibrary loan and send it to you.
Article Delivery Services for Faculty, Staff, and Students
UWG faculty/staff and students may request pdf copies of articles and chapters from books (including reference materials) owned by Ingram Library through ILLiad.
If an item has not been checked out and cannot be located in the library, let us know and we can search for it. Fill out the search request form to be notified if the item is found.