Visitors
University alumni, retirees, consortial partners, and other approved visitors may access all library locations with a valid Columbia University Identification Card (CUID). Approved Visitors without a CUID may present a physical, government-issued photo ID and check in for each visit at the Library Information Office. To enter campus, all approved Visitors must enter through gates authorized by Public Safety, listed on the Morningside Campus Access Levels page.
Please check Morningside Campus Access Levels before coming to campus. Everyone may enter campus during Campus Status Level “O - Open.” Only Approved Visitors with a Community CUID or those who are pre-registered as a guest by a current Columbia student, faculty, or staff member may enter campus during Campus Status Level “I - ID Only.” Only Approved Visitors with a Community CUID may enter campus during Campus Status Level “R - Restricted.”
Please note that Library Information Office staff are unable to pre-register guests and cannot facilitate access to campus during Campus Status Levels “I -ID Only” or “R- Restricted.” Additionally, access to campus does not mean access to the Libraries. Please see below for who has access to the Libraries.
Community CUIDs are library cards that grant physical access and/or borrowing privileges to a number of Approved Visitor groups.
If you currently have a Community CUID in your possession, please do not apply for a new one. If the deactivation date on your Community CUID has not passed but your access and/or borrowing privileges have expired, please contact the Library Information Office directly to renew your privileges. LIO staff can be best reached at lio@columbia.edu.
Those who fall into the following categories are eligible to apply for a Community CUID:
Alumni of Columbia University (affiliates from TC must get their alumni card at TC)
*Alumni are encouraged to wait 120 days to obtain their alumni CUID following their graduation date, as
student-status library privileges remain active for 120 days.
Spouses, domestic partners, and dependents of Columbia University Officers (one time $20 fee)
Spouses and domestic partners of Columbia University students (one time $20 fee)
Already-approved consortial partners: MaRLI, Borrow Direct Plus, 2CUL
Jewish Theological Seminary students, faculty, and staff
There is typically a two-week wait time for cards, but may take longer based on the Morningside Campus Access Level. Special instructions will be provided via email for how to pick-up a Community CUID during Campus Status Level “I -ID Only.” Please do not come until LIO staff email you to let you know that your Community CUID is ready for pick-up. Please note that CUID production is suspended during Campus Status Level “R - Restricted.”
The Library Information Office also offers walk-ins for CUID production during our drop-in hours on Thursdays, 1pm - 3pm. These drop-in hours are first come, first served. We are unable to accommodate walk-ins outside of these hours; thank you for your understanding.
Please check Morningside Campus Access Levels before coming to campus walk-in hours. Libraries staff are unable to facilitate access to campus for Approved Visitors during Campus Status Levels “I -ID Only” or “R- Restricted.”
Approved visitors to the Libraries generally fall into these categories:
Jewish Theological Seminary students, faculty and staff
Visitors eligible to apply for a Community CUID through LIO:
- Alumni (excluding Teachers College Alumni)
- Spouses, domestic partners, and dependents of Columbia University Officers
- Spouses and domestic partners of Columbia University students
- Consortial partners from MaRLI, 2CUL, and Borrow Direct Plus
Visitors with research or short-term event appointments, such as:
- Users with appointments in Special Collections
- Interview candidates or individuals with other appointments
- Users attending events, programs, or viewing an exhibition
- Consortial partners from SHARES, NYU, and METRO
Visitors eligible for a temporary Visitor CUID, such as:
- Faculty affiliated with other academic institutions
- Individuals sponsored by a Columbia University Officer with a letter of introduction
- Other special agreements as approved by the Libraries
Those who do not fall into the above categories may be eligible for access through another consortial partnership or special agreement that your home institution has with Columbia University Libraries. If you have questions regarding library access or your status as a Visitor, please contact the Library Information Office.
Please check Morningside Campus Access Levels before coming to campus. During Campus Status “I -ID Only,” any Visitor who is ineligible for a Community CUID must be pre-registered as a guest by a current Columbia student, faculty, or staff member to enter campus. Library Information Office staff are unable to pre-register guests and cannot facilitate access to campus during Campus Status Levels “I -ID Only” or “R- Restricted.” If you are not pre-registered as a guest by a Columbia affiliate, you will not be able to enter campus.
During Campus Status Level “O - Open,” those who do not fall into an Approved Visitor category may also purchase access to Columbia University Libraries. Physical access and borrowing privileges may be purchased for a one-time fee of $20 plus $75 per month. To purchase these privileges, please come to the Library Information Office in person during our drop-in hours on Thursdays, 1pm - 3pm, when the Campus Status Level is “O - Open.” These drop-in hours are first come, first served. We are unfortunately unable to virtually process or take payment for fee-paying users at this time. Thank you for your understanding.