Guest Access

• Membership is open for a fee to any individual, and to businesses or organizations in the local area. A mail-in application may be obtained at the
• Guest Services Desk or Library Administration.
• Issuance of cards takes 5 to 10 business days.
• Current members may borrow up to 10 circulating print books for 14 days, which may be renewed once, unless otherwise restricted.
• Access to University Library databases and electronic resources is only available in-person as per publishers’ contracts.

• Legacy Members of the Alumni Association who present their current Legacy Alumni Association membership card at the Guest Services desk on the main floor of the University Library may obtain a free CSUN Library card to check out books.
• Legacy members may borrow up to 10 circulating print books for 14 days, which may be renewed once, unless otherwise restricted.
• Legacy Alumni Association members may borrow books from other CSU libraries in-person with the CSUN library card and current Legacy Alumni Membership card; check with the other CSU Library for any restrictions.
• Note: Access to University Library subscription databases and electronic resources (e-books and e-journals) is only available from Library Visitor workstations; remote access is only available to current CSUN students, faculty, and staff, as per publishers’ contracts.
• More information about Library Services Membership Benefits for all Alumni Association members as well as Legacy and Lifetime members is available.

CSUN Emeritus Faculty continue their full library privileges, including 365-day loans, Interlibrary Loan, off campus/remote access to library databases and electronic resources with CSUN user ID and password, and faculty study rooms that may be reserved for a semester, subject to availability.

For retired lecturers with or without Emeritus status, continuing library privileges is determined by service credit and described in the CSUN Administrative Manual, Sections 700 (Section 713) and 600 (Section 650.3). 
Lecturers who retire with a minimum of the equivalent of five (5) years of full-time service (a total of 150 units) or satisfying other required conditions for retirement, and retired lecturers with Emeritus status, which requires a minimum of the equivalent of ten (10) years of full-time service (a total of 300 units), shall be accorded the following rights and privileges upon their retirement: A library card allowing full use of the University Library, including interlibrary loans and any special faculty facilities in the library, including study carrels.

The Office of Faculty Affairs confirms service credit and eligibility for emeritus faculty and retired or emeritus lecturers, and should be contacted by Phone: (818) 677-2962, Fax: (818) 677-5933, or Email: faculty.affairs@csun.edu

• Other CSU campuses’ current faculty, staff, and students, and retired faculty and staff, with valid campus ID cards, may borrow books from the University Library in-person or via their home campus’ OneSearch CSU+ resource sharing service.
• Access to University Library databases and electronic resources is only available in-person as per publishers’ contracts.
• CSUN books circulate for 16 weeks to current CSU students and one year for current CSU faculty and staff.
• Retired CSU faculty and staff may borrow up to 10 circulating print books for 14 days, which may be renewed once, unless otherwise restricted.
• Members of alumni associations of other CSU campuses may obtain a University Library card by presenting a current, valid membership card at the Guest Services desk, which allows borrowing up to 10 circulating print books for 14 days, which may be renewed once, unless otherwise restricted.

Courtesy cards are issued for a one-year period with proof of current status or membership. Courtesy cardholders may borrow up to 10 circulating print books for 14 days, which may be renewed once, unless otherwise restricted. Courtesy cardholders are also limited by other restrictions as noted below.

Eligible categories of Courtesy Cardholders include:

• Retired CSUN staff
• Adults living with and sponsored by a current CSUN faculty or staff member
• Faculty members from non-CSU universities, colleges, and other post-secondary educational institutions
• CSUN Sage Society members
• CSUN campus ministers
• Members of CSUN's Foundation Board of Directors, President's Associates,
• Heritage Society and other volunteer leaderships boards
• The Arts Council for CSUN members
• Master teachers and other members of the Los Angeles Unified School District identified by the College of Education as directly connected with CSUN's student teaching program.