Borrow, Renew, Request
The Colby College Libraries offer a wide array of services and materials for those affiliated with the College, as well as for community members. The information below details borrowing and renewing materials. Colby students, faculty and staff may also request materials from other libraries via our Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service.
Colby Affiliates
What do I need to check materials out of the library?
Your Colby Card
What can I check out?
- Books, Scores, Government Documents
- Seniors: 5 months, 1 renewal
- all others: 28 days, 4 renewals
- Periodicals, DVDs, Sound Recordings – 7 days, no renewal
- Audiobooks – 28 days, 1 renewal
How do I renew it?
If your item can be renewed, either bring it to the library service desk for renewal or log in your library account and renew it online. Please note you will need to enter the number on the back of your Colby Card, only the numbers ignoring the A & B. A2503100*******B.
How do I request non-Colby items?
Use our Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Service
What do I need to check materials out of the library?
- Faculty/Staff – Your Colby Card
- Spouse/Partner – Your Colby Affiliate Card
What can I check out?
- Books, Scores, Government Documents – 1 year, 2 renewals
- Periodicals, DVDs, – 7 days, no renewals
- Sound Recordings – 120 days, 1 renewal
- Audiobooks – 28 days, 1 renewal
How do I renew it?
If your item can be renewed, you can either bring it to the library service desk for renewal or access your library account from the Colby Library homepage and renew it online. Please note you will need to enter the number of the back of your Colby Card, only the numbers between the A & B. Example: A2503100*******B.
How do I request non-Colby items?
For faculty of staff interested in requesting non-Colby items, use our Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Service.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Service is limited to current students, faculty and staff and unavailable for Colby affiliate card holders. Contact your local library to see if they offer interlibrary loan.
What do I need to check materials out of the library?
A faculty member must fill out a library proxy form granting the assistant permission to check out materials on their behalf. These forms are available at the Miller service desk.
What can a research assistant check out?
Books and other materials that you are borrowing on behalf of a faculty member, as part of their research project.
What do I need to check materials out of the library?
A courtesy card for alumni can be obtained at the Miller service desk. Two forms of identification are required, including a photo ID and a current mailing address.
What can I check out?
You can borrow six items at a time.
- Books, Government Documents – 28 days, 1 renewal
- Periodicals – 7 days
- Reference, DVDs, audio, and maps – in library use only
How do I renew it?
If your item can be renewed, bring it to the library service desk for renewal.
Can I request non-Colby items?
No, our Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Service is limited to current students, faculty and staff. Contact your local library to see if they offer interlibrary loan.
What are “Qualified Colby Special Programs”?
Museum Docents and the Atlantic Music Festival
What do I need to check materials out of the library?
A courtesy card, which you can obtain with two forms of identification, one including a current mailing address, and an application available at our service desk.
What can I check out?
You can borrow six items at a time.
- Books, Government Documents – 28 days, 1 renewal
- Periodicals – 7 days
- Reference, video/DVDs, audio, maps, and sound recordings – in library use only
How do I renew it?
If your item can be renewed, bring it to the library service desk for renewal.
Can I request non-Colby items?
No, our Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Service is limited to current students, faculty and staff. Contact your local library to see if they offer interlibrary loan.
Non-Colby Borrowers
What do I need to check materials out of the library?
Year-round adult residents of Maine can obtain a courtesy card at the Miller service desk. Two forms of identification are required, including a photo ID and a current mailing address. Annual fee of $20.00.
What can I check out?
You can borrow one item at a time.
- Books, Government Documents – 28 days, 1 renewal
- Periodicals – 7 days
- Reference, video/DVDs, audio, maps, and sound recordings – in library use only
How do I renew it?
If your item can be renewed, bring it to the library service desk for renewal.
What do I need to check materials out of the library?
Waterville Public Library cardholders or others with Maine InfoNet-affiliated library cards may use their cards to borrow materials from the Colby Libraries. Students, faculty, and staff from Bates, and Bowdoin may also use their campus library card to borrow materials from Colby.
What can I check out?
Bates and Bowdoin users should have comparable access to Colby faculty, staff, and students.
Maine InfoNet card holders can borrow books for 28 days, with one 14 day renewal.
How do I renew it?
One renewal is allowed for books and government documents. If your item can be renewed, bring it to the library service desk for renewal.