Access Services

What We Do

The Access Services Department of the Richter Library is responsible for the operation of the Main Circulation Desk, Inter-Library Loan Service, Course Reserves, management of the physical material stacks, and oversight of the off-site storage facility. Please stop by the Access Services desk for assistance in locating library materials and borrowing items or help with your library account.

UM community members must access the Richter Library via their Cane Cards which opens the turnstiles in the main lobby. Without a Cane Card, Richter Library allows entrance by showing a valid photo ID to the desk attendant.

If you have any questions about library policies, materials or other matters – or have any comments or suggestions, please call us at (305) 284-3233, or send an email to richter.circulation@miami.edu.

Who We Are

Our Services

Equipment Loans

The following items are available for borrowing at the Richter Library Access Services Desk on a first-come/first-served basis:  calculators, laptop chargers, Android phone chargers, USB-C phone chargers, iPhone chargers, MacBook Pro chargers, MacBook USB-C chargers, MacBook Air chargers, , USB-C to HDMI adapters, headphones, dry erase markers, dry erasers and project bags (stapler, scissors, highlighter, and sharpie).

Richter Library Laptop Lending Program

The Library Laptop Lending Program offers Dell and Mac laptops to UM students, faculty, and staff of the University of Miami on a first come/first-served basis. The laptop kits include a power cord and mouse. Depending on the operating system, the laptops come installed with standard productivity software [MS Office Suite, Mac software, and internet browsers]. All equipment borrowed will be the borrower’s responsibility until it is returned to the Richter Library Access Services Desk.

Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) provides University of Miami faculty, students and staff access to research materials which are not available at the UM Libraries. ILL service is provided at no additional charge. ILLiad is the electronic system used for ILL. Requests for ILL must be submitted from a user’s ILLiad account.

Before requesting any materials through interlibrary loan, please check the Library Catalog and E-journals list for availability through the UM Libraries. People associated with the Law School and Medical School must use the ILL service provided by their respective libraries to borrow materials from non-UM libraries, as well as to request materials from Richter or affiliated libraries. Alumni and community users are ineligible to receive ILL services and are encouraged to seek this service from the nearest public library.

Course Reserves

We offer course reserve services, allowing instructors to request that library-owned or personal items are held at the Access Services desk for short-term loan in order to maximize availability for students. We also provide e-reserve services whereby we will purchase e-book copies, acquire streaming video rights, and/or scan print course materials which are then made accessible to students via Blackboard.