UBorrow

UBorrow is a complimentary service provided by 40 public and university libraries in Florida, granting access to a vast collection of around 16 million materials. It facilitates borrowing and lending of physical items among participating UBorrow institutions. Eligible* patrons have the opportunity to borrow materials that are currently unavailable in the UF Library Collection.

*To see ILL eligibility by affiliation, visit the Check-Out Guidelines and Privileges page.

Eligibility

Eligible patrons can borrow materials that are not currently available in the University of Florida Library Collections. To request library materials, your library account must not have any blocks. Overdue items will prevent you from checking out additional material from any UF Library or UBorrow institution. Please note that some affiliations, such as Distance Patrons, are not eligible for UBorrow.

Account Information

The UBorrow service is associated with your UF Library Account. In order to access your account information, check due dates, or place a request, make sure you are logged in to your Library account using your GatorLink credentials.

Request

UBorrow requests are placed through the Library Catalog and are attached to your UF Library Account, which is different from your Interlibrary Loan Account.   

To place a UBorrow request, start by checking if UF owns an item in the UF Library Catalog. If UF does not have the item, search through the Statewide Library Catalog for UBorrow options. To switch from the UF Library Catalog to the Statewide Library Catalog, click on the Advanced Search button. For more detailed instructions with accompanying screenshots, please refer to the How to Submit or Cancel a UBorrow Request page. 

Pickup

UBorrow items are meant to be picked up in person. An email notification will be sent once the requested item is available for pickup. Kindly collect them within 8 days of their arrival. It’s important to note that pickup locations cannot be changed after the request has been submitted, however, you are welcome to choose a different pickup location for your future requests.

Pickup locations include the following:

• Library West
• Marston Science Library
• Architecture and Fine Arts Library
• Education Library
• Health Science Center Library
• Legal Information Center

Please keep in mind that each library has its own hours of operation, so plan accordingly when choosing a pickup location. 

To pick up items, please remember to bring a valid Gator1 ID or driver’s license to the pickup location. If you cannot physically be present, you may request to have a proxy borrower pick up items on your behalf. Visit the Proxy Borrower Policy page for more information.

Have questions regarding pickup? Contact your pickup location.  

Renew

UBorrow items can be renewed once for 30 additional days. UBorrow items can be renewed 7 days before the due date. Prior to that, the item will be marked as Not Renewable.

Follow these steps to renew your item:

1. Log into your UF Library Account
2. Click on Menu on the top right-hand corner of the screen and then select My Requests
3. Locate the items that are eligible to renew, then click Renew

If you still need your item and it is not eligible for renewal, return the current item and submit a new request. UBorrow materials are contractually loaned for a period of 90 days with one 30-day renewal. Loans may not be extended beyond this period.  

All UBorrow materials are subject to recall by the lending institution. If an item is recalled you cannot renew it, however, you can place a new request. Most recalls are for books intended for Course Reserves. Please return all recalled items as soon as possible. 

If an item is overdue or if it is lost or damaged, fines and fees will apply to your Library Account. For more information, see the Overdue Fines Policy and the Lost Item Replacement Policy.

Return

UBorrow material may be returned via any of the methods listed below.

• Return items to any of the George A. Smathers Libraries.
• If you want to return the item by mail please use UPS, FedEx, or Priority Mail. Include the paperwork (that is attached to the book) with your item(s). Follow the Safe Packing and Shipping Guidelines.

If an item is part of a multi-volume set, please return all items together.

If you still need your item and it is not eligible for renewal, return the current item and submit a new request.

If the item is overdue, lost, or damaged, you may be responsible for corresponding fines or fees. For more information, see the Overdue Fines Policy and the Lost Item Replacement Policy.

Have questions about lost or damaged items? Contact the Interlibrary Loan Department. 

Have any questions about overdue items? Contact the Circulation Desk.

Have questions? Visit our FAQ for more information.