UMGC Library
MyUMGC My Classes

Book Borrowing and Delivery

NOTICE

If you have a book to return: 
Please Contact the Document Management Team and request a new UPS shipping label, which will allow you to return it at no cost.

If you have an older UPS label addressed to 1616 McCormick Drive in Largo, please DO NOT USE it, as anything shipped to that location will be returned to sender.    

Books from the Library Catalog

What is the Library Catalog?

The Library Catalog (catalogUSMAI) contains records for millions of books (as well as other materials) located in the libraries of the University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions that are available to borrow.

See our Circulation Policy for more details.

Who can borrow?

  • In the Continental U.S.
  • Outside the Continental U.S.

Searching the Catalog

To access the library catalog, go to the UMUC Library homepage and click on the Library Catalog tab.  You can search from this tab, or click on Advanced Search for more search options. 

Library Catalog tab

Search by title

To search for a book by its title, choose "title beginning with..." from the drop-down menu and then type the title of the book  (omitting articles such as "a," "an," "the," etc.) within the search box:

Title search

 

You will then be brought to this page, listing all the records for this particular title:

Search results

Clicking on the link will bring you to this page of individual records for this title, detailing which universities own it, check-out availability, and publication information:

Individual records for a title

 

Search by author or subject

In addition to title, you can find books by author and subject. Simply choose the corresponding fields in the drop-down menu and type the appropriate terms within the search box:

Author search

Here is an example of a possible subject search in the  catalog:

Subject search

Requesting a book for pickup or free home delivery

You can request a book for home delivery in the continental US (free of charge) or to hold for pickup at a USMAI library or Priddy Library at Shady Grove.  

  1. Click on the title of a book to view the full record, then click the Availability link.
    Availability link
     
  2. Then click the Request button.
    Request button
     
  3. Sign in, if prompted.
    Select UMGC as the campus, and then sign in with your UMGC credentials.
     
  4. Select a pickup/delivery location and click send.
    Pickup/delivery locations

Delivery Options 

  • Want to pick it up in Maryland?
    Select any USMAI library or Priddy Library at Shady Grove. You will be notified when the book is available, and then you should pick it up within a week. Bring your UMGC Library Card to that library's circulation desk.  Be sure and check the hours of operation. NOTE THAT UMGC IS NO LONGER A PICK-UP LOCATION.  
    This generally takes 3 - 5 business days.
  • Want it delivered to you (for free)?  
    Select UMGC-UMGC Patrons Only and we will deliver the book to you.  We will contact you and give you the following choices:
    • Home delivery inside the continental US 
      We will deliver the book, via UPS, to your home address as entered in your Profile in MyUMGC. Books cannot be delivered to P.O. Box numbers.
      This generally takes 1 - 2 weeks.
    • Office delivery if you have an office at Adelphi 
      When the book is ready, we will offer you the option to have it delivered to your UMGC office via campus mail. 
      It generally takes 3 - 5 business days for the book to arrive at UMGC, then an additional 1 - 2 business days to deliver to your office.  
    • Delivery to APO/FPO addresses outside the continental US (faculty only)
      We will deliver the book, via USPS, to your APO or FPO address as entered in your Profile in MyUMGC in MyUMGC.
  • Delays for recalls
    If you request a book that is currently checked out, it will be recalled from the current borrower. This may delay its arrival.

Renewing a book

Use the MyAccount feature in the Library Catalog to renew the book. It will show you items borrowed and give you the option to renew.  

Returning a book 

  • Drop it off at a Maryland location.
    A number of drop off locations are available throughout the state, including the following. Be sure and check the hours of operation.
  • Return it by mail.
    If you received the book by mail, at least 1 week before a book is due (2 weeks if you are overseas faculty), repack it and use the free return label provided. If you have an older UPS label addressed to 1616 McCormick Drive in Largo, Maryland, please DO NOT USE it but contact the Document Management Team and request a new one.  
  • Return it by campus mail.
    If you are at a UMGC location in Maryland, you may return the book to the UMGC Library by campus mail. Please send it back at least 2 business days before the due date.

Loan periods, fines, borrowing limits

Loan periods

Loan periods are determined by individual USMAI libraries and vary. The check-out period will be at least 28 days. Note: Books may be recalled by another borrower, shortening the due date.

Fines

You may be fined for overdue or lost books. You will receive a notice with information on how to make payment. NOTE: Fines must be paid to the institution that owns the book. Do not send the payment to the UMGC Library.

Borrowing Limits

There is no limit on the number of books you can borrow.

Books from DocumentExpress

When to use DocumentExpress to request books

Use DocumentExpress to request books not available in the library catalog. UMGC will try to obtain the book from another library system. 

See our Interlibrary Loan Policy for details.

Note: DocumentExpress does not supply required text books.

Who can borrow?

  • Books:  Current students, faculty and staff in the continental U.S. can request books from DocumentExpress. 
  • Book chapters:  All current UMGC students, faculty, and staff may request chapters (up to 20% of a book) or tables of contents, regardless of location. We will attempt to scan them and deliver them electronically.

Requesting a book for pickup or free home delivery

  • Home delivery inside the continental US
    We will deliver the book, via UPS, to your home address as entered in MyUMGC. Books cannot be delivered to P.O. Box numbers.
    This generally takes 1 - 2 weeks for the book to arrive at UMGC, then an additional 5 - 7 business days for delivery to your home address.
  • Office delivery if you have an office at Adelphi 
    When the book is ready, we will offer you the option to have it delivered to your UMGC office via campus mail.
    This generally takes 1 - 2 weeks for the book to arrive at UMGC, then an additional 1 - 2 business days for delivery to your UMGC office.

Renewing a book

Log in to DocumentExpress one week before the due date and select Books You've Checked Out. Then click on the Transaction Number of the book. If renewal is allowed, you will see an option to Renew at the top of the screen. Some books cannot be renewed and ALL items are subject to recall by the lending library.

Returning a book

  • Return it by UPS. 
    At least 1 week before the book is due, repack the book and use the free return label provided. If you have an older UPS label addressed to 1616 McCormick Drive in Largo, Maryland, please DO NOT USE it but contact the Document Management Team and request a new one. 
  • Return it by campus mail.
    If you are at a UMGC location in Maryland, you may return the book to the UMGC Library by campus mail. Please send it back at least 2 business days before the due date.

Loan periods, fines, borrowing limits

Loans periods

Loan periods are determined by the lending library and vary, but 1 month is typical. Note: books are subject to recall, shortening the due date.

Fines

If books are not returned within three (3) weeks of the due date, you may be liable for a $50.00 to $500.00 replacement fee per item charged by the UMGC Library on behalf of the lending library.

Borrowing limits

  • Students and Faculty
    Unlimited number of items per semester or eight-week term.
  • Staff
    Unlimited number of items, but these must be directly related to job responsibilities. DocumentExpress items for personal use are not accepted.

Book chapters and tables of contents

Need a book chapter or table of contents?
Request book chapters (up to 20% of the book) and tables of contents for electronic delivery through DocumentExpress. We will attempt to scan them and deliver them electronically.

Who can request? 
All current UMGC students, faculty, and staff may request chapters or tables of contents, regardless of location.

Ask a Librarian