Community Borrower

Getting a Card

The UTC Library provides opportunities for community members to obtain a library card and borrowing privileges. Non-affiliated community members will incur an annual fee for services. Community borrower cards must be renewed on an annual basis. Documentation required for your card will vary by user type. Please find details for your group below.

Current UTC Faculty and Staff Dependents

• Dependents of UTC Faculty and Staff must get a card issued by the UTC Office of Human Resources. For more information about how to get this card, contact Human Resources at 423-425-4221.
  • Bring your UTC Dependent Card along with a state-issued photo ID that has your current address to the UTC Library Check Out Desk on the 1st floor of the Library.
  • Complete the Library Community Borrower form and be entered into the Library computer system, which will activate your Library borrowing privileges.

Hamilton County Teachers

• Teachers from the Hamilton County Public School District can get a community borrowers card by presenting a letter from their school. The letter must:
  • Have a current date
  • Verify employment with the Hamilton County Schools
  • Be signed by the principal of the school
  • Be written on school letterhead.
• Bring letter along with a state-issued photo ID that has your current address to the UTC Library Check Out Desk on the 1st floor of the Library.
• Complete the Library Community Borrower form and be entered into our circulation system, which will activate your Library borrowing privileges.

Non-affiliated Community Members (annual $50.00 fee required)

• Bring a state-issued photo ID that has your current address to the UTC Library Check Out Desk on the 1st floor of the Library.
• Complete the Library Community Borrower form and be entered into the Library computer system, which will activate your Library borrowing privileges.
• An annual fee of $50 is required. This can be paid using a campus payment system at the UTC Library, or at the Bursar’s office Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm and must be paid prior to borrowing library materials.

What Can I Check Out?

Borrower Responsibilities

• You are responsible for all items checked out in your name.
• Do not check out items for other people.
• Do not depend on other people to return items for you.
• Note the time or date your borrowed materials are due. Overdue notices are sent as a courtesy, but it always is your responsibility to return materials on time.
• Borrowers are responsible for paying all fines and fees that accrue in their account.
• Library borrowing privileges are suspended when fines/fees reach $15.00.
• The library uses university email accounts for notification of available materials, overdue notices, and late fees. It is the borrower's responsibility to forward mail from these accounts to commercial email accounts if they are used. Lack of mail delivery does not excuse the borrower from responding to any notices.
• If you receive an overdue notice for materials that you believe you returned, please reply to the notice so library staff have all the information necessary to investigate.
• Report lost items promptly.
• Abuse of library privileges may result in the loss of said privileges. Examples of abuse include, but are not limited to, repeatedly not returning materials on time, not paying fines or fees, and damage of library materials or facilities.

Returning Materials

Materials may be returned inside the library during operating hours. There are book returns located on both ends of the Check Out Desk as well as a return in the 24/5 corridor.

Please note that some items must be returned to the library service desk from which they were checked out. These include:

• Technology of any kind including calculators, Chromebooks, and Studio equipment
• Course Reserves
• Materials borrowed through Interlibrary Loan
• Any item that is fragile
• Any item that is time-sensitive

For borrowers' convenience, the UTC Library has exterior book returns available for use both during and after hours. The exterior book returns are located on the Douglas Street side of the building near the base of the staircase and on the Chamberlain Field side of the building near the entrance.