FAQs About Alumni Resource Access
See also the Library Services for Alumni page.
How do alumni get access to the Library?
Alumni of the Medical College [alumni@med.cornell.edu, (646) 962-6596] or of the Medical Center [centeralumni@med.cornell.edu, (212) 821-0948] must show an alumni card
for access to the Library.
Alumni of Cornell Ithaca must register and present
photo ID at the Circulation Desk. All alumni affiliations are verified with the Alumni
Office in Ithaca before a card is issued. If you wish, you may send your information
(name, maiden name if applicable, current address, year of graduation, and the
college/school you graduated from) via email and we will have your card ready,
pending presentation of photo ID.
How do alumni get borrowing privileges at the Library?
Alumni of the Weill Cornell Medical College and the Graduate School of Medical Sciences are eligible for borrowing privileges at the Library.
Alumni of the Medical College must present their alumni card at the Circulation Desk to register for borrowing privileges. Alumni cards are available through the Office of Alumni Relations [alumni@med.cornell.edu, (646) 962-6596]. Once you have completed the registration process, your alumni card will be barcoded and will serve as a Library card as well. It must be presented to Library staff each time you enter the Library and at the Circulation Desk each time you wish to borrow Library material. Please have it with you whenever you come.
Alumni of the Graduate School must present a letter of verification from the Graduate School Office [gsms@med.cornell.edu, (212) 746-6565] to the staff at the Circulation Desk. A separate Library card will be issued to eligible alumni at that time. This card must then be presented to Library staff each time you enter the Library and at the Circulation Desk each time you wish to borrow Library material. Please have it with you whenever you come to the Library.
Please note that alumni privileges do no include Interlibrary Services, TripSaver Requests, off-site access or access to any of our affiliated institutions.
Why are licensed resources not available for
alumni to use from home?
Almost all of the e-journals and databases that the library makes available through
its Web site have restrictions on use and access that are specified in the licensing
agreements signed by the library and the respective publishers and vendors. Access is
restricted to faculty, students, staff, employees and other authorized users. Alumni have
not been included as authorized users for remote access. Alumni who are using the library
onsite have access to these resources as all are licensed for onsite use.
What resources are available to me from home?
All of the resources on the Electronic Resources page
marked ** to indicate that they are free or the version marked [Free Version] can be
accessed from any location. Alumni who are residents of New York State may be able to
access databases and online journals and newspapers from the New York Online Virtual Electronic Library.
What can you do to help alumni who don't live in
New York get access to resources?
WCMC Information Services can help you locate other health science libraries which may
have the items you need - use the Ask a Librarian online form.
Your local public library may also be able to borrow items for you from libraries around
the country through interlibrary loan.
Last Updated: September 3, 2009
