Privilege Cards (P-cards)

Visitors: $500 year / $350 half year
MIT Alumni/ae: $150 year / $90 half year

As of May 1st, 2010, Library Privilege Cards must be purchased online.

Library Privilege Cards permit holders to borrow materials, with some exceptions, in accordance with library policy. The following are regulations of the MIT Libraries Privilege Cards:

1. An MIT Libraries Privilege Card is for the sole use of the person whose name appears on the card.

A card is to be used only by the person to whom it has been issued. Picture identification, in addition to the card, must be presented to borrow library materials.

2. Privilege Cards are issued to individuals, not to
organizations.

Although companies and other organizations may purchase a card for an employee, it is not possible to purchase a "blanket card" for use by several employees.

3. Privilege Cards permit holders to borrow materials, with some exceptions, in accordance with library policy.

Exceptions include, but are not limited to, periodicals, theses, reserve materials, sound recordings, and items in the Rotch Visual Collections, all of which are available for room use only. All MIT Libraries reserve the right to restrict circulation of items in their collection for any reason. Most materials may be borrowed for a maximum of 4 weeks, with no renewals. Materials may be recalled after 2 weeks if needed by an MIT patron, or immediately if needed for reserve. Recalls and holds are not available to Privilege Card holders.

4. Interlibrary borrowing and remote borrowing are not available to Privilege Card holders.

Materials must be checked out on-site in the MIT
Libraries.

5. Privilege Card holders may use most electronic databases and electronic journals on-site only.

Free and unlicensed resources are available to all users, as is Barton, the MIT Libraries' online catalog. All other electronic resources in Vera carry license restrictions, imposed by their vendors, which prevent the MIT Libraries from offering off site access to Privilege Card holders. In addition, some licenses restrict on-site access to MIT students, faculty, and staff.

Abuse of MIT Libraries’ regulations may result in confiscation of cards and cancellation of library privileges.

Please see Guidelines for Use of the MIT Libraries and Computer Use Policy for more information.

Privilege Cards may be purchased through Document Services' secure online order form. Approximately 1 business day of processing time is required to activate borrowing privileges. Please contact Document Services if you have questions.