Service Policy

The service policy for Vanderbilt University Libraries defines groups that are eligible for library privileges. Because policies vary by individual library, please consult Library Access and Use Policies for Vanderbilt University.

Please note that library privileges, as described below, may be revoked, in whole or in part, or not renewed, if users fail to adhere to established library and University policies. University ID cards and library cards are not transferrable.

See the Web page on Circulation Policies for specific information on loan periods, fines, and so on.

Students, Faculty, Staff, and Alumni of Vanderbilt University have reading and borrowing privileges in all divisions of the Jean and Alexander Heard Library, upon presentation of a valid University identification card. Alumni privileges do not include access to interlibrary loan.

Spouses and Domestic Partners of current Vanderbilt faculty, staff and students have library reading and borrowing privileges. Domestic Partners should confirm their status with Human Resources before requesting a library card.

Dependent children of staff and faculty have reading privileges only. Cards are issued by the Vanderbilt Card Office, 184 Sarratt Student Center. Students, faculty, and staff will receive their first card free of charge; alumni, spouses, and dependents will be charged $10.00 for their first card. Replacement cards cost $15.00.

Faculty Members of institutions of higher education have reading privileges in all divisions. Certain reciprocal agreements with some members of the Association of Research Libraries provide additional privileges to faculty of those institutions. Cards are authorized at the Information desk in the Central Library, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Pastors who are not pursuing a degree at another institution of higher learning are granted borrowing privileges at the Divinity Library. Employees of denominational boards and agencies are also granted these privileges. Applications are available at the Divinity Library circulation desk. The circulation staff member will then complete a form which you must take to the Vanderbilt Card Office to get your photo I.D. Please contact MAT Trotter (322-6993) if you have any questions regarding a Divinity Library Use Card.

Judaica Use Cards are available to members of the local Nashville Jewish community. These cards provide access and borrowing privileges for the Divinity Library only. Applications are available at the Divinity Library circulation desk. The circulation staff member will then complete a form which you must take to the Vanderbilt Card Office to get your photo I.D. Please contact MAT Trotter (322-6993) if you have any questions regarding the Judaica use card.

Fisk University students, faculty and staff are eligible for library privileges, including borrowing privileges, at Vanderbilt. Such privileges are granted one semester at a time and are initially established at the student or faculty member's home library. For more information, browse to this Fisk / Vanderbilt Cooperative Agreement page.

Other Visitors to the Divinity Library may access the library freely during the hours 7:30am - 7:00pm, Monday - Friday, 9 am - 5 pm on Satuday, and 11 am - 5 pm on Sunday. Government Documents and Special Collections are open to all interested persons without charge.

Kudzu is a consortium agreement among 13 southeastern research libraries, including Vanderbilt, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and the University of Kentucky. Learn more about KUDZU, through which you may borrow materials from Vanderbilt or from other libraries in the consortium. Please note that this agreement operates among the libraries; you must request materials through your home library, and the items will be sent to your library.

Athena is the catalog for the Nashville Area Library Alliance (NALA), which consists of Vanderbilt and 11 other Nashville area libraries, including the Nashville Public Library. Effective March 2002, the Heard Library offered all libraries participating in NALA a number of courtesy access cards for the Heard Library system. These access cards are loaned by each NALA library to users who have need of resources available in the Heard Library system.

To date, the following NALA libraries have requested and received access cards: Aquinas College, Austin-Peay State University, Belmont University, Brentwood Library, Cumberland University, Fisk University, Free Will Baptist Bible College, Lipscomb University, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee State University, and Trevecca Nazarene University. If you are affiliated with one of the institutions listed above and are interested in borrowing a card to access the Heard Library system, contact your local librarian or reference department.

The cards permit access, not borrowing privileges. To obtain materials from Vanderbilt (or from any of the other NALA libraries), you can search the Athena catalog and make an interlibrary loan request through your home library. The requested items will then be sent to your library.