Borrowing
Search the Library Catalog for things you need.
Library Card You need a valid UNE ID to use the library’s resources. Most student IDs are automatically registered with the library; faculty and staff may need to confirm their registration. Contact the library with UNE ID barcode problems or access questions.
Course Reserves Instructors place some items on ‘reserve’ behind the library’s circulation desk so that students will have access to them; these items don’t leave the library. Search here by instructor name or course number to find course reserves.
Need something from the other campus? UNE has two libraries: the Jack S. Ketchum Library on the Biddeford Campus and the Josephine S. Abplanalp Library on the Portland Campus. If an item is owned by UNE but is located at the "other" campus library, you can request that it be delivered to your "home" campus library. Delivery is generally 24-48 hours; the item will be checked out to you and you’ll receive an email that it’s ready for pickup. Items may be returned to either campus library. How do I make a request?
How long can you use it?
Reserves - 2 hours in-library use DVDs/CDs - 1 week
Books - 4 weeks (students/alumni), 4 months (faculty/staff)
Reference books, Journals, and Special Collections cannot be taken out of the library. Borrowed materials may be returned to either campus library.
Is the item you need checked out? You can place a hold on an item currently checked out to someone else. When the item is returned, it will be checked out to you and you’ll receive an email that it’s ready to be picked up at the library. If an item has been checked out for more than half its original loan period, a recall can be issued, and a new due date will be emailed to the original borrower. If you can’t wait for the item to be returned, look into borrowing options through MaineCat or ILLiad.
Need it longer? Renewals can be made on our website, by email, by phone (602-2361 Biddeford, 221-4330 Portland), or in person. Items can’t be renewed if a hold or recall has been placed on them, and patrons with bills or outstanding charges will need to resolve those before they are able to renew.
Notices Email is the library's method of notification. Please confirm your current email address at the Circulation Desk at either campus library.
Overdue and Billed Items Overdue notices will be emailed if an item is not returned or renewed on time. After two overdue notices, items are billed. A replacement cost plus a $15.00 non-refundable late fee will be charged for each billed item. The replacement cost may be refunded once the item is returned. Patrons who receive three bills may lose their borrowing privileges. Library services are temporarily suspended if items are billed or charges are outstanding.
Can’t find it at UNE? Here’s how to get it.
We don’t own everything, but we can get you most anything!*
MaineCat: For books and DVDs not owned by UNE’s library, search MaineCat first. It’s a combined library catalog for almost every library in Maine, and items borrowed through MaineCat arrive quickly (typically within a week). An option to search MaineCat will appear if you’ve searched the UNE Library Catalog for an item we don’t own. Books borrowed through MaineCat have a four week loan period with an optional two-week renewal period. FAQs
ILLiad: If you’re looking for an article we don’t own, or the book you’re looking for isn’t available through MaineCat, place a request through ILLiad, UNE’s worldwide interlibrary loan service. Required textbooks cannot be requested through interlibrary loan. Loan period varies.
GPACU: Current UNE students, staff, and faculty can use their UNE ID card to borrow books and other items directly from the libraries of several local schools because UNE is a part of GPACU, the Greater Portland Alliance of Colleges and Universities. Click here for more information.
WorldCat: Curious where something you’re looking for is held, or if it’s available at all? WorldCat lets you search library catalogs throughout the U.S. and the world to find what you’re looking for. Once you know it exists, you can request things we don’t own through MaineCat or ILLiad.
*Please note that all library policies apply to items borrowed from other libraries.