Your Library Card
A York University library card will take different forms depending upon whether an individual is a student, a faculty or staff member, or an external borrower.
Students -- All York University students in degree programs are issued a YU-card. The YU-card serves as the only library borrowing card for these students. Some students, e.g., those taking only Continuing Education courses, will not have a YU-card, but may be issued, depending upon their program, a paper library card.
Faculty and Staff - Full-time faculty and staff members are eligible for the YU-card, which will serve as their library borrowing card. New full-time faculty and staff members are normally required to obtain a YU-card for this purpose; full-time faculty and staff members who already have a paper library card may continue to use it, but are encouraged to obtain a YU-card. York University employees in other categories may still need to request a paper library card at the circulation desk of any of York's libraries.
External Borrowers -- Library cards are issued to external borrowers at Bronfman, Frost, Law and Scott circulation desks.
My Library Account
A borrower's My Library Account information includes record of items currently charged out to them, due dates, amounts owing in fines, and notices relating to their hold, recall, and intercampus borrowing requests. Online access to My Library Account information is obtained differently depending upon whether or not the borrower has a Passport York account (most York students, faculty, and staff have one):
- Borrowers with a Passport York account will use this to access their library account information through the My Library Account page. They will also use it to access licensed e-resources and to use a number of online library services (e.g., holds, renewals, intercampus borrowing, and booking of group study rooms).
- Borrowers without a Passport York account (mainly external borrowers or students taking only Continuing Education courses), will access their My Library Account information and use some online library services (e.g., holds, renewals, intercampus borrowing) by using the barcode number (29007...) on their paper library card, together with a PIN (Personal Information Number). An initial PIN will be issued together with the paper library card only to those who do not have a Passport York account. The PIN can be changed online using the Change My PIN form. If a PIN is forgotten, a borrower can send a message to circinfo@yorku.ca to request assistance. The library barcode number should be included in the message.
Borrowers will not be able to view their library account information online if their account has been blocked because of outstanding fines of $25.00 or more (or $5.00 in case of external borrowers). They will need to pay their fines at one of the library circulation desks in order to borrow other books or view their library account information online. We encourage all library users to begin each new academic year with a clear account, which may save some inconvenience later in the academic year.
All borrowers are urged to keep the Libraries apprised of their currently preferred e-mail address so as to receive courtesy reminders of coming due dates and notifications of items received and on hold for them. This can be done using the Verify My Preferred E-Mail Address form.