Borrow & Renew
Current UNC students, faculty, and staff can borrow items with their UNC ID card. If you’re an online student, library staff may be able to send materials to you. Colorado residents can borrow items, too.
Information for Online Students
Articles and Book Chapters
Most articles and book chapters can be emailed to you – just make an Interlibrary Loan request
Books and Other Items
If you live within 50 miles of the UNC campus, please visit Michener Library or Skinner Music Library.
If you live more than 50 miles away and don’t have any classes on campus, we will send items to you via USPS First Class Mail. Fill out the request form or email library.ocp@unco.edu.
How to Return Items
You are responsible for return postage and for mailing the items so they arrive at UNC by the due date. Send items to:
Michener Library
University of Northern Colorado
501 20th St.
Greeley, CO 80639
Online Resources
Most online resources are available off-campus to UNC faculty, staff, and students. Just log in with your UNC username and password when prompted.
Research Help
Visit our Research Help page for options on how to contact a librarian.
Course Reserves
Students, your instructors may put items on course reserve. These items include:
- Books and book chapters
- Articles
- Audiovisual materials
- Educational kits
Reserve items can be checked out for short periods such as 2 hours, 4 hours, or 1 day. Some items must stay in the library. Visit the help desk at Michener Library or Skinner Music Library to check out course reserves.
You can read electronic reserves (e-reserves) online. Here’s how to find electronic reserves for your course. You will need to know your course abbreviation (such as NURS for Nursing) or your instructor’s name.
- Go to the University Libraries home page.
- You will see search box at the top of the page. Click on the Reserves tab above this box. In the screen shot, there’s an arrow pointing to the Reserves tab.
- Enter your course abbreviation. If you know your course number, you can enter that too. Or, enter your instructor’s last name.
- Click Search.
- Click View or Print [name of article] to access the item.
If you’re teaching a course and want to put an item on reserve, please visit our Teaching Resources page.
How Long You Can Keep Items
Books, Music Scores, Maps, Government Publications: These items vary by borrower
- UNC students: 1 semester, with 2 renewals possible
- UNC faculty and staff: 1 semester, with unlimited renewals possible
- Non-UNC borrowers: 4 weeks, with 2 renewals possible
Other items are the same for all borrowers:
Journals and Magazines: 2 hours
Current Reading Area Books: 3 weeks, with 1 renewal possible
Videos and Music Recordings: 1 week, with 2 renewals possible
Interlibrary Loan Items, Prospector Items, and Course Reserves: Varies by item
Reference and Archival Materials: Do not circulate
Return Items
You can return items to any of these locations, regardless of where you borrowed them:
- Michener Library main desk
- Skinner Music Library main desk
- Book drop at the north entrance of Michener
- Book drop to the right of the Skinner Music Library entrance
*Please do not return records in the book drops
*University Libraries are not responsible for items left outside book drops
Overdue Items, Lost Items, & Fines
There are no fines for most overdue items. Exceptions are listed below. You will be charged a replacement fee for any item that is significantly overdue (usually 45 days or more).
Fines
None
Replacement Fee
An item is considered lost if you do not return it within 45 days of the due date. University Libraries will charge you $80 to replace it.
If you return the item within 1 year of the due date, University Libraries will credit you $75.
Fines
None
Replacement Fee
Varies by item. The shorter the checkout period, the sooner you will be charged if you do not return an item.
The replacement fee depends on the value of the item.
Fines
$1 per hour per item, to a maximum of $20
Replacement Fee
$80 per item. There is a non-refundable $20 charge per item to cover late fines and processing costs.
Fines
$5 per day per item, to a maximum of $20
Replacement Fee
$80 per item. There is a non-refundable $35 charge per item to cover late fines and processing costs.
Renew Items
There are several ways to renew items:
- Online through the Renew/Check Holds link in the online catalog
- In person at the main desk in Michener Library or Skinner Music Library
- By phone at 970-351-2671 (Michener Library) or 970-351-2439 (Skinner Music Library)
*You can renew items online or at either library, regardless of where you borrowed them.
Request Items that are Checked Out, Missing, or Not Available From University Libraries
Use Interlibrary Loan to get items that are:
- Checked out to another person
- Missing
- Not available from University Libraries
Learn More About Interlibrary Loan
You can also use the “Request” button in the online catalog to:
- Trace a missing item
- Place a hold on an item that is checked out
However, these options usually take longer.
High Plains Library District
High Plains Library District (HPLD) is the local public library system. It serves most of Weld County and parts of neighboring counties.
Students, faculty and staff can get an HPLD library card at Michener Library! Bring your UNC ID, fill out an application, and receive a card.
You can start requesting items from HPLD immediately. You can pick up your HPLD items at Michener Library. Just select “University of Northern Colorado” as the pickup location in the HPLD catalog. Delivery will take a couple of business days. Select “Email notification” and you will receive a message when your items are ready for pickup.
Suggest a Purchase
We welcome purchase requests from the UNC community! Please complete the purchase request form.
Information for Colorado Residents
Any Colorado resident can get a Community Borrower card to use at University Libraries:
- Visit the main desk at Michener Library or Skinner Music Library and fill out an application
- Show a photo ID. If your photo ID does not include your current Colorado mailing address, you will also need to show a document that verifies your address, such as:
- Canceled mail, an emailed bill or notification containing your address, checkbook, or vehicle registration.
You will receive your card the same day you register. It is valid for two years.
- You can borrow up to 20 items at one time
- You can renew items twice
- You cannot borrow or renew items if you have any unpaid library fines
- Prospector and Interlibrary Loan services are not available to community borrowers
- You can use public computers on the 1st floor of Michener Library and in the Computer Commons in Skinner Music Library
- You can use databases and online journals while in the libraries, but not off campus
- You cannot use printers or copiers, but nearby High Plains Library District offers these services
Archival Research
- Community members can conduct research in Archives & Special Collections without a library card
- You must fill out a Patron Registration and Research Request form before your visit or when you arrive
- You can view some archival materials online at Digital UNC or ArchivesSpace