Information for Faculty Information for Staff Information for Students
Information for Faculty:
What groups are considered UM Affiliates?
How do I make an appointment for help with research?
I would like to arrange to have an in-depth literature search performed for me; how can I do this?
What document delivery services are available?
How do I place an item on reserve?
When I want to borrow a book from a UM Library, what documentation will I be asked to present?
I'm a Visiting Scholar at UM; how can I obtain borrowing privileges at the Library?
How long does the Taubman Library allow its materials to circulate?
Where should I return items I have borrowed from THL?
I have lost a book that I borrowed from the Taubman Health Sciences Library; what happens now?
From the patron's point of view, what happens when a book is recalled?
How do I renew a book that I currently have checked out?
I'm unable to find a book that should be available on the shelf; what should I do?
I need to purchase a Vendacard to print and make copies; how do I do this?
Does the Library have any rooms for teaching or giving presentations available by reservation?
Will I be able to use wireless in the Taubman Health Sciences Library?
Information for Staff
What groups are considered UM Affiliates?
How do I make an appointment for help with research?
I would like to arrange to have an in-depth literature search performed for me; how can I do this?
What document delivery services are available?
How do I place an item on reserve?
When I want to borrow a book from a UM Library, what documentation will I be asked to present?
I'm a temporary staff member; am I eligible for borrowing privileges?
How long does the Taubman Library allow its materials to circulate?
Where should I return items I have borrowed from THL?
I have lost a book that I borrowed from the Taubman Health Sciences Library; what happens now?
From the patron's point of view, what happens when a book is recalled?
How do I renew a book that I currently have checked out?
I'm unable to find a book that should be available on the shelf; what should I do?
I need to purchase a Vendacard to print and make copies; how do I do this?
Does the Library have any rooms for teaching or giving presentations available by reservation?
Will I be able to use wireless in the Taubman Health Sciences Library?
Information for Students
What groups are considered UM Affiliates?
How do I make an appointment for help with research?
I would like to arrange to have an in-depth literature search performed for me; how can I do this?
What document delivery services are available?
When I want to borrow a book from a UM Library, what documentation will I be asked to present?
I'm a Graduate Student Instructor; does this enhance my borrowing privileges?
How long does the Taubman Library allow its materials to circulate?
Where should I return items I have borrowed from THL?
I have lost a book that I borrowed from the Taubman Health Sciences Library; what happens now?
From the patron's point of view, what happens when a book is recalled?
How do I renew a book that I currently have checked out?
I'm unable to find a book that should be available on the shelf; what should I do?
Will I be able to use wireless in the Taubman Health Sciences Library?
What groups are considered UM affiliates? 
- Students
- Faculty or Staff
- Spouse or Significant Other of a U-M Faculty or Staff member
- Faculty proxies
- Visiting Scholars
are considered affiliates and are all automatically eligible for library privileges.
When I want to borrow a book from a UM Library, what documentation will I be asked to present?
In order to charge materials from any University Library a borrowing card with a machine-readable barcode must be used. Faculty, staff, and currently registered UM students may have the barcode on the back of their M-Card activated at any University Library circulation desk.
I am a new faculty member/staff member/student, and I would like to activate my card with within a week of my appointment/enrollment; where can I go to do this?
New faculty and staff wishing to activate their cards within a week of their appointment may do so at the Taubman Health Sciences Library, the Graduate Library, or the Art, Architecture & Engineering Library. New students can go to any of these three sites as well as the Undergraduate Library
I'm a Graduate Student Instructor; does this enhance my borrowing privileges?
Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) with current appointments and Research Assistants with a GEO contract are eligible for faculty level borrowing privileges.
I'm a Doctoral Candidate who has fulfilled all requirements except the completion of my dissertation; how long will I retain borrowing privileges?
Doctoral candidates who have fulfilled all U-M requirements except the completion of the dissertation may have library privileges extended for a period of up to two years from their most recent enrollment or until receipt of their degree, whichever comes first. Rackham students on detached study may also have library privileges extended to the extent of their leave as registered with the Rackham Graduate School. These extensions can only be made at the Graduate Library Circulation Desk (doctoral candidate extensions can also be made at the Taubman Health Sciences Library).
I'm a temporary staff member; am I eligible for borrowing privileges?
U-M temporary staff may be eligible to borrow from the University Library and to have access to its electronic resources for the duration of their appointment, if required by their job duties. They will have to fill out an application, which must be signed by their supervisor. This application is available at the Taubman Health Sciences Library Information Desk, or online (NB: link to PDF file, 98 kb).
I'm a faculty/staff member, and I'd like to get borrowing privileges for my spouse/significant other; can this be done, and how?
If you are a U-M faculty or staff member, you may request a library card for your spouse or significant other. The employee must have a faculty level position or a regular staff appointment at a 50% level or greater.
Borrowing privileges are good for one year, renewable annually, or for the duration of the faculty/staff appointment, if less than one year.
The spouse or significant other is responsible for any circulation activity occurring on the card including payment for all books or other library material that may be lost while charged to the card.
Unless a title has more limited circulation, loan periods will be three weeks. Number of books that may be charged is unlimited, although number of renewals may vary among the libraries.
Spouse/significant other borrowing applications are available at the Graduate Library North Circulation Desk or online (NB: link to pdf file; 90 kb).
How can a faculty member set up a faculty borrowing proxy account for an assistant, and what are the conditions?
Borrowing by proxy provides borrowing privileges to individuals working for or with a U-M faculty member who has a permanent teaching appointment. This card is issued only upon written authorization of the faculty member and, although the proxy carries the library card, the sponsoring faculty member is wholly responsible for all materials borrowed in his or her name. The borrowing privileges of both the sponsoring faculty and the proxy will be suspended if the proxy card is delinquent.
The faculty member assumes full responsibility including:
- Prompt communication with the proxy regarding all notices and correspondence.
- Return or renewal of books on due date.
- Immediate return of books that are recalled for use by other borrowers.
- Payment for all library materials that may be lost while charged to the proxy.
- Written notification if a proxy is to be revoked or canceled before the expiration date.
Proxy cards are issued for no more than one year at a time and must be renewed each year. Applications are available at the Taubman Health Sciences Library Circulation Desk or online (N.B.: link to pdf file; 78 kb).
I'm a Visiting Scholar at UM; how can I obtain borrowing privileges at the Library?
The University Library provides privileges to borrow from its collections to scholars who have been invited to the U-M campus to participate in research or instructional activities. All other visitors who do not have this invited status should refer to the FAQ for the General Public. Visiting scholars should be issued an M-Card through their sponsoring department and need to fill out an application, which must be signed by your Dean, Director, or Department Chair. This application is available at the Taubman Health Sciences Library Circulation Desk or online (NB: link to pdf file; 96 kb). It can also be turned in at the Circulation Desks at the Graduate Library or the Art, Architecture & Engineering Library.
Borrowing privileges are good for one year, renewable annually, or for the duration of the visit or program if less than one year.
How long does the Taubman Library allow its materials to circulate?
The Taubman Health Sciences Library provides the following loan periods for all registered borrowers:
Journals: 3 days
Books: 8 weeks (3 weeks for undergraduate students) - recalls can shorten the loan period to as little as three weeks, depending on the timing (please note the new recall due date on your recall notice)
Taubman Health Sciences Library items in local and Buhr storage (unless too fragile): 3 weeks
The following do not circulate:
-items in the reference and index collections
-rare books
Where should I return items I have borrowed from THL?
Items that were checked out at any University Library can be returned to any other library in the system (this also includes the UM Flint Thompson Library). Please note that this does not include reserve materials, which must be returned to the lending library.
Items returned to the Taubman Health Sciences Library can be placed in the return slots just outside and to the left of the main entrance doors. These slots can be used on any day and at any time of day, regardless of whether or not the library is open. Items can also returned to the drop boxes at the Circulation Desk any time that the library is open.
I have lost a book that I borrowed from the Taubman Health Sciences Library; what happens now?
Individuals who lose an item from the Taubman Health Sciences Library collections will be charged the replacement cost of the item, together with a processing fee of $50 and any applicable recall or reserve fines. The cost of the book will be based on its replacement by a new copy of the identical work, or its equivalent current edition, as determined by HSL staff. If the work is out of print, THL staff may, at their discretion, elect to charge a flat replacement fee of $100 per item. Binding fees, if appropriate, will also be assessed.
I need to use a book that is currently checked out from the Library; how do I place a recall request?
The easiest way to place holds or recalls on items from any UM library is to do so directly in Mirlyn. First log in and then search for the items of interest to you. When you find a particular copy that you would like (by clicking on Location in the list of titles), a "Get This" will appear if it can be held or recalled. If the item is currently available, clicking on "Get This" will send word to the owning library, which will initiate a Library-to-Library delivery of your requested item. If the item is checked out, clicking on "Get This" will place a recall on it.
You can also ask Circulation Services to assist you with your hold or recall requests. You can use our online form to submit your requests or send your request to us via e-mail (send to TMLCirculation@umich.edu). You can also call us at 764-1210 or come by in person with your UM ID card.
In general, all borrowers are guaranteed the use of a library book for a minimum of three weeks, so the book might not be returned immediately.
PLEASE NOTE: Library policy forbids releasing information about what other borrowers have borrowed or requested.
From the patron's point of view, what happens when a book is recalled?
When a book is recalled, the borrower will receive a recall notice via e-mail.
The recalled book is now due on the date listed after NEW DUE DATE in the email, regardless of the date stamped in the back of the book.
Borrowing privileges are suspended if a recalled item is not returned by the new recall due date and a fine of $2.00 per day per item is assessed to students who do not return a recalled book by the new date. There is no grace period.
How do I renew a book that I currently have checked out?
The easiest way to renew books checked out from any UM library is to do so directly in Mirlyn. Log in and click on "My Account" to see the list of items you have checked out and to select those you wish to renew.
You can also ask Information Services to assist you with your renewal requests. You can send your request to us via e-mail (send to TMLCirculation@umich.edu), forward the courtesy or overdue notice you received (as long as it is not a final or recall notice), or call us at 764-1210. You always have the option to visit our library in person with your UM ID card, or use our online form to submit your requests.
Books and journals can be renewed six times beyond the initial loan period, unless requested by another borrower.
We cannot renew items that are currently on course reserves with a short-term loan. We also cannot renew items for borrowers whose privileges have expired or been blocked (for further information about your status, please contact us).
If your Taubman or Public Health books have reached their renewal limit, and you need them for a little longer, please contact us. Our staff will respond to these requests during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm).
Does the Library have any rooms for teaching or giving presentations available by reservation?
We do have the Library Learning Center, in Rm. 2802 Med Sci II. This is a room equipped with 23 workstations for students, as well as an instructor's station. The main purpose of this room is for support of work shops taught or co-taught by Library staff, but it can be reserved by other persons and units of the University subject to certain conditions. Please go to the following URL for more information:
/taubman-health-sciences-library/library-learning-center
I need to purchase a Vendacard to print and make copies; how do I do this?
Vendacards are available from the Information Desk in the amounts of $2, $5 and $10. Please note that patrons must pay by check, or with bills, with exact change. Each page copied or printed costs 6 cents.
Vendacards may also be purchased using University shortcodes, for staff who have access to them. Information Desk staff will record the shortcode, and you will have to visit a web site to activate and begin using your card (you will receive instructions when you pick up your card).
I'm unable to find a book that should be available on the shelf; what should I do?
If you have looked for a book or journal in the stacks and couldn’t find it, you can take the following steps. First, we would suggest checking the “sorting shelves” which are located on the 5 th and 6 th floors in the far back corner, on the opposite side of the floor from the copiers (floor plans for the fifth and sixth floors are available online). The sorting shelves are temporary holding locations for books and journals that have not yet been returned to their permanent locations. The 5 th and 6 th floor sorting shelves will mainly hold books/journals that belong on those particular floors. For example, those on the 5 th floor will mainly hold journals with titles beginning with A-Q. Those on the 6 th floor will mainly hold books and journals with titles beginning with R-Z.
If you can’t find the book or journal on the sorting shelves, you can go down to the Circulation Desk on the 4 th floor and ask staff there to see if they can provide any assistance in locating the item. If not, we would be happy to conduct a thorough search for it, and desk staff can give you a search form to fill out so you can request this. The Shelving staff will search multiple times for the item, making the first search one day after the request is received. They will make a second search one week after the search is received. If the item is found during either search, we will hold it for you at the Circulation Desk and notify you immediately. If the item can’t be found by the second search, we will notify you of this via email and suggest that you request the book or journal article via Interlibrary Loan, so we can get it for you from another institution.
How do I make an appointment for help with research?
Consult our list of Liaison Librarians for the appropriate person to help with your search.
I would like to arrange to have an in-depth literature search performed for me; how can I do this?
You can contact the appropriate Liaison Librarian directly (click here for a list of our Liasons), inquire in person at the Information Desk, or call (734-764-1210) or email (thlibrary@umich.edu) the Library to make these arrangements. We also have an on line form available to submit literature search inquiries. This service is available to UM faculty, students and staff, as well as to area health professionals.
What document delivery services are available?
The two principal document delivery services for UM affiliates are 7FAST, which makes copies of materials owned by the University Library, and Interlibrary Loan, which obtains copies of materials not owned by our Library system. 7FASt is available free to Faculty and Graduate Students, but charges $3.75 per request to Staff and Undergraduate Students. Interlibrary Loan is available free to all UM affiliates. For more information on these services, please consult their respective web sites:
Will I be able to use wireless in the Taubman Health Sciences Library?
UM affiliates can connect to the MWireless-UMHS network. They will need:
- a UM uniquname
- a Windows Active Directory (W.A.D.) password; if you do not know your W.A.D password, go to the following URL to re-set it:
https://accounts.itcs.umich.edu/password/
Go to the following web site to determine if you qualify for a UM Uniqname and W.A.D. password:
http://www.itcs.umich.edu/accounts/uniqname-processes/
If you are unable to connect to MWireless-UMHS once you have found it with your laptop computer or mobile device, you may visit the following web site on one of our public computers for detailed connection instructions for various computer operating systems:
http://www.itcom.itd.umich.edu/wireless/connect/
Library staff are unable to provide technical support for connecting to the wireless network. If you need support please contact ITCS at 734-764-4357 (4-HELP).
How do I place an item on reserve?
Please click here to go to a page with detailed instructions on placing items on reserve.
You can also contact the Reserves Supervisor by phone at 734-764-1210, or by email at TMLReserves@umich.edu.
