Visitors to Duke University Libraries you have access to various services, depending on their affiliation.
All visitors
- Can enter library buildings only during Public Hours
- Onsite access to most Online Journals, Articles, eBooks, and Research Databases from our collections
- Bring your own device and connect through the DukeVisitor wireless network
- If your home institution is a member of eduroam and you have joined the eduroam network before leaving home, you will be able access the eduroam network on our campus
- Use a public workstation (we have a limited number of workstations); ask at the service desk at Perkins Library or the Music Library. Workstations are available for one hour per person per day.
- Can request materials from the Library Service Center for delivery to a Duke University Library for on premise use only.
Borrowing privileges
See our Loan Periods for information about borrowing physical items.
Getting started
- Before you come to campus, complete your Duke Libraries Visitor Account by setting up a Duke OneLink account.
- When you arrive on campus for the first time, register at the service desk of the Duke University Library you will be using.
Visitors from TRLN Universities
The Triangle Research Libraries Network (TRLN) is a partnership of:
- Duke University
- North Carolina Central University
- North Carolina State University
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH)
To borrow items, patrons from these institutions can visit Duke University Libraries and present their home institution ID card. TRLN patrons will be required to confirm their current affiliation with their institution by successfully logging into their home library account.
Faculty and graduate students from UNC-CH
Faculty and graduate students from UNC-CH have borrowing privileges that differ from standard TRLN privileges.
BorrowDirect Plus visitors
Faculty, staff and students from BorrowDirect member institutions can present their school ID card to obtain borrowing privileges at the Perkins, Lilly, Music, Law and Divinity Libraries as well as the Library Service Center. Privileges are issued at the Perkins Library service desk weekdays 8 AM to 6 PM (hours may vary). Visitors will be required to confirm their current affiliation with their institution by successfully logging into their BorrowDirect account.
Friends of the Duke University Libraries
If you do not have a current affiliation with Duke, you can obtain borrowing privileges for one year by joining the Friends of the Duke University Libraries with a donation of $100 or more.
To receive a borrowing card, please visit the Service Desk at Perkins, Lilly or Goodson Library, or visit the Friends of the Duke University Libraries website for more information on how to give. A minimum gift of $100 is required to obtain or renew a borrowing card. If you plan to give online, please allow at least 48 hours before requesting a card to allow your gift to process.
Please contact the Ford Library at the Fuqua School of Business directly for information about borrowing materials from their collection.
Durham residents
Members of the Durham, North Carolina community are eligible to apply for borrowing privileges at no cost by presenting themselves and proof of residence at the Perkins Library Service Desk. Only materials from the Perkins and Bostock Libraries and the Library Service Center are available to community borrowers.