Skip to main content

Who Can Borrow

Current Duke University faculty, staff, and students may use their DukeCard to borrow materials.

The following patrons are eligible for free borrowing privileges upon presentation of their DukeCard:

Faculty, staff, and students from UNC, NCSU, and NCCU, whose libraries comprise the Triangle Research Library Network (TRLN), can use their school's card to borrow materials.

Faculty, staff, and students with valid borrower accounts from BorrowDirect member institutions can use their school's card to borrow materials from Perkins, Lilly, Music, Law, and Divinity libraries as well as the Library Service Center. Please check the Loan Periods tab for more information about available materials and loan periods.

Sponsored access to library resources may be requested for research and academic collaborators by active Duke faculty and staff.

All other patrons wishing to borrow may obtain privileges by joining the Friends of the Duke University Libraries. A minimum gift of $100 is required to obtain a borrowing card. 

Loan Periods

Select your affiliation with Duke:

Undergraduates

  • Book Loan Period: 4 weeks
  • Renewal: unlimited
  • Number of Checkouts Allowed: unlimited
  • eBooks: varied loan periods
  • Reserve Materials: varied loan periods
  • Lilly DVD, Film & Video: 1 week; 1 week renewal
  • Lilly Journals & Periodicals: building use
  • Lilly CD/Audio Books: 4 weeks
  • Music CD: 4 weeks
  • Music DVD: 1 week
  • Music Scholarly Editions: 3 days
  • Music LPs & Laserdiscs: 4 weeks
  • Music Microforms: 1 week
  • eReaders: 2 weeks; 1 renewal
  • Interlibrary Loan: varied loan periods

Graduate Students and Honors Undergraduates

  • Book Loan Period: academic year
  • Renewal: unlimited
  • Number of Checkouts Allowed: unlimited
  • eBooks: varied loan periods
  • Reserve Materials: varied loan periods
  • Lilly DVD, Film & Video: 1 week; 1 week renewal
  • Lilly Journals & Periodicals: 1 day
  • Lilly CD/Audio Books: 4 weeks
  • Music CD: academic year
  • Music DVD: academic year
  • Music Scholarly Editions: 3 days
  • Music LPs & Laserdiscs: 4 weeks
  • Music Microforms: academic year
  • eReaders: 2 weeks; 1 renewal
  • Interlibrary Loan: varied loan periods

Current and Emeritus Faculty

  • Book Loan Period: academic year
  • Renewal: unlimited
  • Number of Checkouts Allowed: unlimited
  • eBooks: varied loan periods
  • Reserve Materials: varied loan periods
  • Lilly DVD, Film & Video: 1 week; 1 week renewal
  • Lilly Journals & Periodicals: 1 day
  • Lilly CD/Audio Books: 4 weeks
  • Music CD: academic year
  • Music DVD: academic year
  • Music Scholarly Editions: 3 days
  • Music LPs & Laserdiscs: 4 weeks
  • Music Microforms: academic year
  • eReaders: 2 weeks; 1 renewal
  • Interlibrary Loan: varied loan periods

Sponsored Affiliate

  • Book Loan Period: 4 weeks
  • Renewal: unlimited
  • Number of Checkouts Allowed: 25
  • eBooks: varied loan periods
  • Reserve Materials: varied loan periods
  • Lilly DVD, Film & Video: 1 week; 1 week renewal
  • Lilly Journals & Periodicals: building use
  • Lilly CD/Audio Books: 4 weeks
  • Music CD: 4 weeks
  • Music DVD: 1 week
  • Music Scholarly Editions: 3 days
  • Music LPs & Laserdiscs: 4 weeks
  • Music Microforms: 1 week
  • eReaders: 2 weeks; 1 renewal
  • Interlibrary Loan: no

Current Staff

  • Book Loan Period: 4 weeks
  • Renewal: unlimited
  • Number of Checkouts Allowed: unlimited
  • eBooks: varied loan periods
  • Reserve Materials: varied loan periods
  • Lilly DVD, Film & Video: 1 week; 1 week renewal
  • Lilly Journals & Periodicals: building use
  • Lilly CD/Audio Books: 4 weeks
  • Music CD: 4 weeks
  • Music DVD: 1 week
  • Music Scholarly Editions: 3 days
  • Music LPs & Laserdiscs: 4 weeks
  • Music Microforms: 1 week
  • eReaders: 2 weeks; 1 renewal
  • Interlibrary Loan: varied loan periods

Spouse/Partner

  • Book Loan Period: 4 weeks
  • Renewal: 10 *
  • Number of Checkouts Allowed: unlimited
  • eBooks: varied loan periods
  • Reserve Materials: varied loan periods
  • Lilly DVD, Film & Video: building use
  • Lilly Journals & Periodicals: building use
  • Lilly CD/Audio Books: 4 weeks
  • Music CD: 3-item, in-library use
  • Music DVD: 3-item, in-library use
  • Music Scholarly Editions: in-library use
  • Music LPs & Laserdiscs: 3-item, in library use
  • Music Microforms: in-library use
  • eReaders: no
  • Interlibrary Loan: no

Duke Alumni

  • Book Loan Period: 4 weeks
  • Renewal: 10 *
  • Number of Checkouts Allowed: 10
  • eBooks: University Press Scholarship Online only
  • Reserve Materials: varied loan periods
  • Lilly DVD, Film & Video: building use
  • Lilly Journals & Periodicals: building use
  • Lilly CD/Audio Books: 4 weeks
  • Music CD: 3-item, in-library use
  • Music DVD: 3-item, in-library use
  • Music Scholarly Editions: in-library use
  • Music LPs & Laserdiscs: 1 week
  • Music Microforms: in-library use
  • eReaders: no
  • Interlibrary Loan: no

Friends of the Library

  • Book Loan Period: 4 weeks
  • Renewal: 10 *
  • Cost of Membership: $100
  • Number of Checkouts Allowed: 10
  • eBooks: no
  • Reserve Materials: building use
  • Lilly DVD, Film & Video: building use
  • Lilly Journals & Periodicals: building use
  • Lilly CD/Audio Books: 4 weeks
  • Music CD: 3-item, in-library use
  • Music DVD: 3-item, in-library use
  • Music Scholarly Editions: in-library use
  • Music LPs & Laserdiscs: 3-item, in-library use
  • Music Microforms: in-library use
  • eReaders: no
  • Interlibrary Loan: no

TRLN

  • Book Loan Period: 4 weeks
  • Renewal: unlimited
  • Number of Checkouts Allowed: unlimited
  • eBooks: varied loan periods
  • Reserve Materials: varied loan periods
  • Lilly DVD, Film & Video: by arrangement
  • Lilly Journals & Periodicals: building use
  • Lilly CD/Audio Books: 4 weeks
  • Music CD: 3-item, in-library use
  • Music DVD: 3-item, in-library use
  • Music Scholarly Editions: in-library use
  • Music LPs & Laserdiscs: 1 week
  • Music Microforms: in-library use
  • eReaders: no
  • Interlibrary Loan: no

UNC Faculty and Graduate Students

  • Book Loan Period: 1 semester
  • Renewal: unlimited
  • Number of Checkouts Allowed: unlimited
  • eBooks: varied loan periods
  • Reserve Materials: varied loan periods
  • Lilly DVD, Film & Video: by arrangement
  • Lilly Journals & Periodicals: building use
  • Lilly CD/Audio Books: 4 weeks
  • Music CD: 3-item, in-library use
  • Music DVD: 3-item, in-library use
  • Music Scholarly Editions: in-library use
  • Music LPs & Laserdiscs: 1 week
  • Music Microforms: in-library use
  • eReaders: no
  • Interlibrary Loan: no

BorrowDirect Plus

  • Book Loan Period: 4 weeks
  • Renewal: 12 or for the life of the account, whichever is less
  • Number of Checkouts Allowed: 20
  • eBooks: varied loan periods
  • Reserve Materials: building use
  • Lilly DVD, Film & Video: building use
  • Lilly Journals & Periodicals: building use
  • Lilly CD/Audio Books: building use
  • Music CD: building use
  • Music DVD: building use
  • Music Scholarly Editions: building use
  • Music LPs & Laserdiscs: building use
  • Music Microforms: building use
  • eReaders: no
  • Interlibrary Loan: no

Note: The information presented above applies in most cases; however, policies for some formats and library locations may vary. If you have questions, please ask a librarian.

You can learn more about policies specific to the professional school libraries:

Renew Duke Requests

Renew your Duke University Libraries books and DVDs online, over the phone or in person.

Some items have a limited number of renewals, and you cannot renew items that are overdue, lost or recalled. Look at the top of the screen to read the status of your renewal requests. If you have any questions, please contact library staff.

Renew Interlibrary Loan Materials

Request renewal of your Interlibrary Loan materials by logging into your Interlibrary Loan account. Titles borrowed through TRLN Direct or BorrowDirect will appear in your Library Account (not your Interlibrary Loan account).

Staff cannot guarantee renewals of interlibrary loans because renewals are up to the discretion of the lending library. We will let you know of the lending library's decision via email.

Overdue Fines

  • The Duke University Libraries (Perkins and Bostock Libraries, Lilly Library, Marine Lab Library, Music Library, and Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library) do not charge fines for the late return of a regular loan book unless it is has been recalled or declared lost (i.e., it is more than 28 days overdue).
  • The professional school libraries (Divinity School Library; Ford Library, Fuqua School of Business; Goodson Law Library; and Medical Center Library) charge fines, depending on the library and the material
  • All libraries charge fines for overdue course reserve materials and for returning recalled items late
  • All libraries charge fines for overdue DVDs, CDs, and eReaders

Fine Type

Daily/Hourly Fine

Regular loan book None (Unless the book is recalled or declared lost. See the "Lost Items" section below.)
eReader $5/day
DVD $5/day
Recalled item $3/day
3-hour reserve $1/hour
1-day reserve $1/day
3-day reserve $1/day

Lost Items

  • If you do not return or renew items within 28 days of their due date, you will incur a "lost item fee." You will need to pay a minimum of $125. This charge includes a minimum $100 replacement fee and a $25 processing fee.
  • The minimum replacement fee for reserve materials is $250 plus the $25 processing fee.
  • If the cost to replace the item exceeds the minimum replacement fee, then you will pay the actual replacement cost plus the $25 processing fee.
  • If you pay the lost item fee and then find the item, you will receive a refund for the replacement cost but not for the processing fee.
  • Purchase a new copy of the title on behalf of the library, and Duke University Libraries will send you a refund for the replacement fee. However, you must consult with library staff before purchasing a replacement copy.

For more information about paying your lost item fee, contact staff at the appropriate library:

Borrower Responsibilities