University Libraries Circulation Policy: Home

Virginia Tech students, faculty, and staff will use their Hokie Passports as their library cards and we will automatically create their library patron accounts. All other patrons must come to the Newman Services Desk on the second floor of Newman Library so that we can manually create your account. You will need to do the following:

1. Ask staff for a new borrower card.
2. Present a valid Virginia state issued photo ID such as a Virginia driver's license, a Virginia DMV ID card, or a photo ID from another Virginia college.
3. Fill out a new patron form.
4. Once we have created your account, we will give you your new borrower card. You will use this to check materials out of the library. You can also use the number on the card to manage your library account online. It does not give you off-campus access to restricted online materials.

Whenever you want to check items out of the library, bring those items to the Newman Services Desk and present your borrowers card. Should you forget your borrower's card, you may present your valid Virginia state issued photo ID instead. We will not check items out to patron's who cannot present their either their borrower's card or a valid Virginia ID.

Minors can get a borrower's card, but they need to have their parent or guardian present when getting the card. The parent or guardian must also be registered for a library account. Please be aware that minor accounts are subject to the same fines and restrictions as all other library accounts. The parent/guardian associated with a minor account is financially responsible for any lost or damaged library materials loaned to the minor.

Large outside groups such as the Governor's School or Upward Bound should contact us by email at libservices@vt.edu, beforehand to make the necessary arrangements.

Until a Hokie Passport or borrower's card has been reported lost or stolen to the Newman Services Desk (540-231-6340), borrowers will be held financially responsible for the materials borrowed and the charges incurred on the assigned ID number.

If the borrower lends an item to a faculty member, a student, or a friend, the original borrower is still responsible for all fines, replacement costs and other charges incurred.

This rule applies to all library patrons.