The Resource Sharing unit provides service to the University at Albany’s current students, faculty, staff, and emeritus faculty. Courtesy borrowing privileges, alumni borrowing privileges, and Empire State College borrowing agreements do not include Resource Sharing privileges. Individuals from other academic institutions, including SUNY institutions, must use the Resource Sharing services of their institution’s library; all other patrons should contact their local public library.
Loan periods vary and are set by the lending libraries. They are typically between 4-16 weeks and may be eligible for renewal.
Renewals are at the discretion of the lending library unless the paperwork included with your item states “NO RENEWALS.” If an item cannot be renewed but you still need it, you can request a new copy and we will attempt to obtain it from another library.
Prompt return of Resource Sharing materials is expected. Return borrowed materials to the Circulation desk of the University Library, the Dewey Library, or the Science Library. Materials can also be returned at any other SUNY Library.
Borrowers are responsible for returning Resource Sharing materials on time and in good condition.
Some lending libraries occasionally restrict items to in-library use only if an item is rare or fragile. In-library use items will be specially marked. They can be checked out to your account, but cannot be taken out of the building and must be returned before you leave. Circulation Desk staff should be notified if you would like to keep the item on hold to view again at a later time.
Sometimes lending libraries recall books because they are needed by their own patrons or for reserve. These books must be returned immediately. We will send you an email message telling you that the book has been recalled and that the due date has changed.
Resource Sharing materials not returned 30 days past the due date will be declared lost. If the item was borrowed through ILLiad, your ILLiad account will be blocked and you will not be able to request new materials until the overdue item is returned. If you need an exception for extraordinary circumstances such as illness, please contact Resource Sharing Staff as soon as possible.
It is very important to return borrowed materials on time. Failure to return materials on time damages UAlbany’s relationship with other libraries and compromises UAlbany’s ability to borrow materials from them in the future. Lending libraries can, and do, block us from borrowing any more items if we have very overdue books. This adversely affects all UAlbany students, faculty and researchers.
If an item borrowed through Resource Sharing is lost or damaged during the loan period, the borrower is responsible for the replacement cost of the material as determined by the lending library. Replacement costs are typically $105 per book, but that amount can differ depending on the library and the item. Some libraries will not accept replacement copies so please contact Resource Sharing Staff before purchasing a replacement.
