Visit us
Who can visit?
While our libraries primarily serve the Stanford community, we strive to make our world-class research resources available to as many researchers as we can. There are plenty of opportunities for visitors to experience our collections.
Day pass
Limited to seven days per year (or 14 days for Stanford alumni). Register at one of the locations below with an original (physical), valid government-issued photo identification (ID), such as drivers license, passport, or state ID.
Minors (under the age of 18) must be accompanied by an adult or legal guardian at all times. The legal guardian must have an acceptable government-issued ID.
Purchase a library card
You can visit Stanford Libraries seven days a year (fourteen for Stanford alumni) at no cost. After that, you will need to purchase a library card. Library cards are only valid at Stanford University Libraries. The following coordinate libraries are not included: Law Library, Lane Medical Library, Hoover Library and Graduate School of Business Library.
Minors are not eligible to purchase fee-based library cards.
Library access
Access Stanford University Libraries buildings. Use library materials in-house.
- $450/year ($100 for alumni)
- $150/3 months ($40 for alumni)
- $75/month ($15 for alumni)
- $35/2 weeks ($10 for alumni)
Library access and borrowing
Access Stanford University Libraries buildings. Place holds, renew, and check out up to twenty-five items.
- $1000/year ($400 for alumni)
- $500/5 months ($175 for alumni)
- $325/3 months ($125 for alumni)
Visitor essentials
Getting to our libraries
- Review parking options for visitors.
- Find accessibility information for each library location.
Library access and borrowing
- Open study spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Lockers, group study rooms, study carrels, and after-hours study spaces are for Stanford students only; visitors are not permitted to use them.
- Licensed electronic resources are available on public computers only. Access from personal devices or off campus is not permitted.
- Loan periods are 28 days and limited to 25 items. (Note exceptions for partnerships with Berkeley and University of California.
Computing and connectivity
- Connect to visitor Wi-Fi anywhere on campus and all libraries.
- Access public computers provided in all libraries.
Printing and copying
- Print and copy using Cardinal Print, available for guests and visitors.
Lastly, please review our library policies before your visit.
Tours
Stanford ID holders may request a tour by contacting the Reference desk. Please specify preferences for dates, times, library location, and the number of people who will participate. Public tour groups (of any size) or other large groups are not permitted inside Stanford Libraries buildings. No exceptions will be granted.
Stanford affiliates and partners
As a graduate student, faculty, or academic staff at a University of California school, you are eligible for an access + borrowing card. The card is free-of-charge and renewals are free.
Common loan periods
- Graduate students - due at the end of the quarter
- Faculty/Academic Staff - due at the end of Spring quarter (academic year)
Berkeley undergraduate students and non-academic staff do not have special privileges to access Stanford University Libraries and only qualify for general public visitor access.
We have reciprocal borrowing agreements with the University of California (UC) campuses. UC faculty, graduate and doctoral students, and academic staff must inquire with their home institution’s library staff for instructions and eligibility prior to visiting Stanford.
Common loan periods
- Graduate students - due at the end of the quarter
- Faculty/Academic Staff - due at the end of Spring quarter (academic year)
Stanford visitors planning to visit UC libraries must obtain an RSP Card from Green Library before visiting UC libraries.
We have reciprocal borrowing agreements with Ivy Plus libraries. As a student, faculty, or staff member at an Ivy Plus school, you are eligible for an access + borrowing card. Your first library card is $10 and renewals are free.
As a staff member (50-100% full-time equivalent) and fellow from Stanford Hospital, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, you are eligible for an access + borrowing card. The card has a one-time fee of $10, and renewals are free.
Graduate Medical Education (GME) staff and fellows: You are eligible for an access + borrowing. The fee is $0, and renewals are free.
The fee to replace your card is $25.
Stanford alumni can visit the Stanford University Libraries fourteen days a year. An original, physical, valid government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license, passport, or state ID) is required to visit. After fourteen days, alumni may obtain a library card for further access and/or borrowing at a special reduced rates.
Access only
- $100/year
- $40/3 months
- $15/month
- $10/2 weeks
Access and borrowing
- $400/year
- $175/5 months
- $125/3 months
The Stanford ID Card Office issues an Emeriti ID Card that grants both library building access and borrowing privileges.
Also, emeriti retain their full SUNetIDs, which includes access to some library e-resources.
The Stanford ID Card Office issues a Faculty/Staff Retired Card which will grant library building access, but not borrowing privileges. However, retirees may purchase a Stanford University Libraries (SUL) borrowing card at a reduced rate of $200/year.
Access to many business services, including access to library e-resources via SUNet log-in, end on the last day of employment. Visit UIT’s page for details about SUNetID privileges. Some library e-resources and databases that don’t require log-in are available from the visitor computer kiosks located inside our library buildings.
First, read the visiting scholar criteria. If you do not meet the guidelines, but you are hosted by a Stanford University department, you are eligible for an access + borrowing card, free-of-charge and valid for ninety days.
Continuing studies instructors are hired by the Continuing Studies department and their University IDs are issued by the Stanford ID Card Office. Their IDs become active four weeks before a class starts for new instructors or two weeks before the class starts for returning instructors. The University ID Card Privileges include library access and borrowing, and the cards are de-activated ten days after the end of the class.
Continuing studies students do not have special privileges to access Stanford University Libraries and only qualify for general public visitor access.
Questions about visitor privileges
For any questions or concerns, please contact sul-privileges@stanford.edu or call (650) 723-1492.