Borrow, Renew, and Request Materials
Learn how to borrow, renew, and request library materials at Kennedy Library.
Whether you're looking for books, equipment, or items from other libraries, we're here to help you get what you need.
Resources and Services
Library Resources
Use OneSearch to discover library resources available both in print and online.
E-Course Materials
Find available textbooks and e-course materials with Course Reserves.
Tech Rental and Printing
Looking for tech rental and printing? Explore our tech services.
Introducing meescan
Fast, Easy Self-Checkout
Meescan is an app you can download to your phone to check out books and other materials right from your device. Simply scan your items and go. Available for download on iOS and Android.
Check out kiosks are available on the first floor as well.
Circulation Guidelines
For Current Students
| User Type | Book/DVD/Video | Good Reads/ Bound Journal | Loan Limit | Interlibrary Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty, Staff, Emeriti | 90 days/ unlimited renewals | 3 weeks/3 renewals | 999 items | Loan period varies/no renewals |
| Other CSU Faculty and Staff | 6 weeks/1 renewal | 3 weeks/3 renewals | 200 items | Not applicable |
- Students must have a PolyCard to borrow materials.
- Kennedy Library materials will renew automatically if eligible. This does not apply to Interlibrary Loan materials.
- Cal Poly students may place requests directly in OneSearch. When you are signed into OneSearch, your request options will appear. These may include physical books/media, digital articles, digital book chapters, and more. If no request option appears, complete an Interlibrary Loan form.
- Graduating students' privileges expire three months after the graduation day of that current quarter.
For Faculty, Staff, and Emeriti
| User Type | Book/DVD/Video | Good Reads/ Bound Journal | Loan Limit | Interlibrary Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty, Staff, Emeriti | 90 days/ unlimited renewals | 3 weeks/3 renewals | 999 items | Loan period varies/no renewals |
| Other CSU Faculty and Staff | 6 weeks/1 renewal | 3 weeks/3 renewals | 200 items | Not applicable |
- Cal Poly faculty, staff, and emeriti must have a PolyCard to borrow materials.
- Other CSU faculty and staff must have a current CSU school ID card to borrow materials.
- Kennedy Library materials renew automatically if eligible. This does not include Interlibrary Loan materials.
- Cal Poly faculty, staff, emeritus may place requests directly in OneSearch. When you are signed into OneSearch, your request options will appear. These may include physical books/media, digital articles, digital book chapters, and more. If no request option appears, complete an Interlibrary Loan form.
Proxy Borrowers
- Faculty and staff may authorize a student, staff, or faculty member to act as a proxy to borrow and return materials on their behalf.
- To appoint a proxy, send an email requesting the proxy to circulation@calpoly.edu.
- When visiting the library, the proxy informs the circulation desk staff when borrowing as a proxy and who they are borrowing for.
- Proxy borrowers use their own PolyCard to check out materials, but the materials will be recorded on the account they are the proxy for.
For Alumni and Affiliates
Affiliate users include Cal Poly Alumni, Cal Poly Users' (Faculty, Staff, and Students) significant others and children, Sponsored Users/Research Scholars/Cuesta and Allan Hancock Students and Faculty, Mustang Parents/Supporters, Library Volunteers, and State Agencies.
| User Type | Membership Cost | Book/DVD/Video | Good Reads/ Bound Journal | Loan Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cal Poly Alumni | Free | 3 weeks/3 renewals | 3 weeks/3 renewals | 10 items |
| Cal Poly Spouse/ Child | Free | 3 weeks/3 renewals | 3 weeks/3 renewals | 10 items |
| Sponsored User/ Research Scholar | Free | 6 weeks/1 renewal | 3 weeks/3 renewals | 200 items |
| Cuesta/Allan Hancock Faculty/ Student | Free | 3 weeks/3 renewals | 3 weeks/3 renewals | 10 items |
| Mustang Parent/ Supporter | Free | 3 weeks/3 renewals | 3 weeks/3 renewals | 10 items |
| Library Volunteer | Free | 3 weeks/3 renewals | 3 weeks/3 renewals | 10 items |
| State Agency Employee | Free | 3 weeks/3 renewals | 3 weeks/3 renewals | 10 items |
- Materials renew automatically if eligible.
- With the exception of Alumni, Interlibrary Loan options for affiliates have been suspended until further notice.
- Course reserves are restricted to current Cal Poly students, faculty, and staff.
- Cal Poly affiliates with library membership may place requests directly in OneSearch. When you are signed into OneSearch, your request options will appear. These may include physical books/media, digital articles, digital book chapters, and more. If no request option appears, complete an Interlibrary Loan form.
Cal Poly Alumni
- We are happy to extend borrowing privileges to Cal Poly alums in the San Luis Obispo area. To get started, please email the Cal Poly Alumni Association to request and receive an alumni ID number. (If you already have a Cal Poly Alumni Card, please present it when visiting the library.) Then, come in person to the library service point during open hours to fill out an application and establish a password, at which time a library card will be issued.
Cal Poly Spouse/Child
- Cal Poly employees must be present to register and present Cal Poly ID.
Sponsored User/Research Scholar
- Present proof of attachment to a department at Cal Poly.
Cuesta and Allan Hancock Faculty/Student
- Present current Cuesta or Allan Hancock ID or proof of enrollment/employment.
Mustang Parent/Supporter
- Present current membership card with donor level of "parent" or "patron."
State Agency Employee
- Present proof of employment at California State Agency.
For Community and General Public
| User Type | Annual Membership Cost | Book/DVD/Video Good Reads/Bound Journal | Loan Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Member |
$60/account holder
|
3 weeks/3 renewals | 10 items |
| SLO County Teacher | $30/account holder | 3 weeks/3 renewals | 10 items |
| SLO County High School Student | $10/account holder | 3 weeks/3 renewals | 10 items |
| Corporation Member |
$250/corporation
|
3 weeks/3 renewals | 10 items |
Community Membership
- Membership is open to all individuals and/or corporate entities.
- Present picture ID and proof of San Luis Obispo County residency.
- SLO County teachers/students must present school ID.
- Materials renew automatically if eligible.
- Interlibrary Loan options for Community Membership have been suspended until further notice.
- Course reserves are restricted to current Cal Poly students, faculty, and staff.
General Public
- The public is welcome to visit the library during open hours.
- Visitors without a Cal Poly username and password may bring their own device and sign onto guest WIFI.
- Most databases provide full access to guests working on a device while in the library. Here are further details on Guest WIFI.
Additional Information
See our FAQ page for more information or send an email to circulation@calpoly.edu.
Library Pickup Lockers
Use our convenient 24/7 self-service pickup location for your library materials requests.
Book Returns
Return you materials at two book-return locations: Dexter Plaza and H-10 Parking Lot entrance.
Requests From Other Libraries
The Kennedy Library Interlibrary Loan department facilitates access to materials not available within our licensed subscriptions and collections. Requests are charge-free for Cal Poly students, staff, faculty, and emeritus.
- Delivery Timeframes: Most journal articles are delivered via email as PDF files. Generally, this takes between 1-3 days, though some items may take longer.
- Borrowing Timeframes: Books and other tangible materials borrowed from other libraries have limited borrowing periods and renewals may not be possible. For this reason, borrowing assigned textbooks or books needed for extended periods of time is not possible.
- Items and Resources: Although other libraries will lend many kinds of materials, some items, such as videos, reference works, rare materials, and textbooks may not be available for loan.
- Non-Renewable: Interlibrary loan materials are not renewable, and loan periods vary depending on the lending library.
Learn More About Requests
How to Request
Requests in OneSearch
- Cal Poly students, faculty, staff, emeritus, (and alumni with library membership) may place requests directly in OneSearch.
- When you are signed into OneSearch, your request options for Kennedy Library or elsewhere will appear. These may include physical books/media, digital articles, digital book chapters, and more.
- If no request option appears, you may always fill out a request for Interlibrary Loan.
- You can view and track all your requests from My Account.
Request Timeframes
Cal Poly Students, Faculty, and Staff (and Alumni with a library membership)
| How soon do you need it? | What do you need? | How do you get it? |
|---|---|---|
| Today | All formats. | Use OneSearch for available online print library materials. |
| 1+ days | Journal articles and/or book chapters. | Use OneSearch to request materials NOT in the library’s subscriptions or collections. |
| 3+ days | Books, dissertations, and/or media are available in other CSU libraries. | Use OneSearch to request materials available in other CSU libraries. |
|
|
Books, dissertations, and/or media NOT available in other CSU libraries. | Use OneSearch to request materials OR submit an Interlibrary Loan Request. |
Remember, if no request option appears, you may always fill out a request for Interlibrary Loan.
Please consult with the Interlibrary Loan staff if you have any questions about availability or the length of time you may borrow materials.