UBorrow lets you borrow books, articles and more from other libraries at no cost. If something isn’t available through UF, we’ll help you get it from our partner libraries. This is our fastest service to get physical items.
Need to check if you’re eligible? Visit our Check-Out Guidelines and Privileges page.
Did You Know?
UBorrow books usually arrive within 3-5 business days and can be picked up from most branches of the George A. Smathers Libraries. They have a 90-day checkout period with an optional 30-day renewal. PDF requests can take 3-5 days to arrive, and are available for up to five downloads within 30 days.
Request
Use the Statewide Catalog to get an item through our UBorrow service. You can access it directly here, or by selecting Statewide Catalog while searching for your item in the UF Library Catalog. This shows you all of the items that participating Florida libraries own, including UF.
Once you open what you need, a UBorrow Request button will show up, and you can submit the form. Make sure you’re logged in with your GatorLink credentials to see the request options.
If UBorrow doesn’t have what you’re looking for, submit a request using the blank request form at the top of the UF Library Catalog, which can also be found using this direct link.
After submitting a request, you can track it in your UF Library Account. This is the same account where you check out other items from the UF Libraries.
For more detailed instructions, please visit UBorrow Tutorials.
What We Can Get
• Article/book chapter scans
• Physical books
• Audio/visual materials
What We Can’t Get
• E-books
• Archival material
• Special collections
• Whole journal issues
• Scans of entire works
• Textbooks on Course Reserves
Pickup
For Local Users
You will receive an email when your item is ready for pickup. There is a 14-day pickup window, but short extensions may be possible. Contact your pickup location for assistance.
While your pickup location may be changed at any time, it may not apply to items currently on the hold shelf for you. Please Contact Us if you need help changing your pickup location for a current request.
UBorrow items must be picked up in-person. If you can’t pick them up yourself, a proxy can do so. Visit the Proxy Borrower Policy for more information.
Pickup locations include the following:
- Library West
- Marston Science Library
- Architecture & Fine Arts Library
- Health Science Center Library
- Education Library
For questions regarding pickup, please contact your pickup location. You can check their hours of operation here.
For Distance Users
Once your book is ready to ship, you’ll get an email asking you to review your shipping details in your ILL Account. No action is needed if everything looks correct.
We usually process the book for shipment the following business day. When this happens, we check out the book to your UF Library Account. This is where you will be able to keep track of your due date.
Within 24 hours of us shipping the book, you will receive an email from UPS with the tracking information. Your items will arrive in a returnable protective mailer. Save this mailer to reuse when you are ready to return your items.
For more information, visit Safe Packaging and Shipping.
Renew
UBorrow items are eligible for one 30-day renewal. The item will not be renewable until seven days before the due date.
Follow these steps to renew your item:
- Log in to your UF Library Account.
- Click Menu in the top right corner of the screen and then select My Loans.
- Find the item and click Renew.
Once a UBorrow item has been renewed once, it must be returned to the owning library by its final due date and cannot be renewed again.
If you still need the item after the final due date, submit a new request before the first one is due. Alternatively, please reach out to the appropriate Subject/Area Specialist and recommend adding the book to the library’s collection.
*Please note, all UBorrow requests are subject to recall by the owning library. For more details, see Recalls.
Return
For Local Users
To make sure your items are properly returned, please keep the UBorrow band on the item, as it includes important information for processing.
If an item is part of a multi-volume set, please return all items together.
You can return your UBorrow items in the following ways:
- In person at any of the following circulation desks:
- Library West
- Marston Science Library
- Architecture & Fine Arts Library
- Health Science Center Library
- Education Library
- If you are not registered as a distance user, you can return items by mail using a trackable return method such as UPS, FedEx, or USPS Priority Mail. Make sure you drop off your package in-person and keep your confirmation receipt. Please refer to our Shipping Guidelines for more information.
If an item is lost or damaged, the owning library may bill you for overdue and replacement costs. For questions regarding lost or damaged items, please Contact Us.
For Distance Users
To make sure your items are properly returned, please keep the UBorrow band on your books, as it includes important information for processing.
If an item is part of a multi-volume set, please return all items together.
You can return your UBorrow books in the following ways:
- By mail using the included pre-paid UPS shipping label.
- Find detailed instructions for shipping your items back here.
- In person at any of the following circulation desks:
- Library West
- Marston Science Library
- Architecture & Fine Arts Library
- Health Science Center Library
- Education Library
Don’t have a shipping label? Refer to our Shipping Guidelines or Contact Us.
If an item is lost or damaged, the owning library may bill you for overdue and replacement costs. For questions regarding lost or damaged items, please Contact Us.
Recalls
All UBorrow items are subject to recall from the owning library.
If the owning library needs the item you have checked out, they will issue a recall, which accelerates the due date. This new due date replaces the original due date, and you will receive an email notification. If you still need the item, please place a duplicate request and return the original before the new due date.
Once the item reaches three weeks overdue, it will be considered Lost, and the owning library may bill you for overdue and replacement costs.
Have questions? Visit our FAQ for more information or Contact Us.