Frequently Asked Questions

Find your answers to commonly asked questions about library services, using the library and finding materials.
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Visitor Information

How do I login to My Library Account (visitor)?

If you have a NC Resident's or other type of visitor Borrower's Card, you login to your Library Account by entering:

Your last or first name:
Your ID (barcode from your Card)
Your Library PIN

What if I have forgotten my Library PIN?
How do I create my library PIN?

I am a high school student, can I use the library?

Yes, Randall Library is a public facility and welcomes high school students to use its information resources in the building. View our High School Students policy for more information.

Where is Randall Library?

You can find driving directions, campus maps, parking information and a detailed Google map on this page: http://library.uncw.edu/directions

What if I have forgotten my Library PIN?

Visit this page to request a PIN reset.
An email will be sent to your email address with a link that will allow you to choose a new library PIN.
Your Library PIN will allow you to View your Library Account and renew items.

How much does it cost to use a copier?

Copying charges are $.15 per page at the coin copier. UNCW students can use their iPrint money to make copies for $.08 per page.

I attend another university in the UNC system, can I still check out items?

As a student in the UNC system, you are eligible for a free Cooperative Borrower's card as long as you are in good standing with your home university's library. Please see our policy page for further details and requirements.

Is there color printing in the library?

Color printing is available from all iPrint stations. You may choose to print in color from any of the library’s computers.

When sending the print job, select the COLOR print driver (the default is the B&W driver).
When using My Print Center, in the “print options” section, select the option for “color.”
Pick up your print job.

UNCW gives students an allotted amount of free prints each semester and color copies are also available. Visitors and Guests can also use iPrint.

For printing costs for students, please see How Much Is Printing? on the iPrint FAQs webpage.
For printing costs for visitors, please see iPrint for Visitors & Guests on the iPrint FAQs webpage.

For more information about iPrint and printing services, see the iPrint website.

Can visitors save or download materials on the visitor computers?

Visitor computer users can save materials either by emailing to your personal email account (ex. Yahoo, Gmail, etc.) or by saving to a flash drive (you will need to bring your own). Visitor computers are not equipped with floppy or zip drives and do not allow downloading software.

Can you get wireless access if you are not affiliated with UNCW?

Yes. Just select “seahawkguest” from your wireless connections on your laptop. Read more about IT services for visitors.

For visitors from affiliated institutions, you can select the eduroam network. Use your home institution credentials to login and get internet access, as well as access to library resources. Read more about eduroam access.

Are computers available for visitors or guests?

4 visitor computers are located on the first floor of the library.
Visitors must register for a free account at the Library Help Desk.
The session time limit on these computers is one hour, and visitors are limited to a total of two hours daily.
These computers have internet access and MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Access software. There is no other software available on these computers.

What do I need to check out items from the library?

In order to use your borrowing privileges, you need to present a valid form of identification at check-out, such as the University OneCard for faculty, staff, or students, a borrower's card for visitors, or a state-issued picture identification card (e.g., a driver's license).

For more information, please see http://library.uncw.edu/policies/borrowing_policies.

When is the library open?

To check the hours for a specific day, see the library hours calendar.

Hours vary during the summer, and when classes are not in session.

During the fall and spring semester, access between Midnight and 7am, Sunday through Thursday, is restricted to UNCW students, staff, and faculty. OneCards are required.

I don't work or attend classes at UNCW, can I still check out items?

Unaffiliated borrowers may check out materials by purchasing a NC Adult Resident Borrower's Card or North Carolina Community College student card. More information can be found in the given links. You may also call us at 910-962-3270.

How do I create my library PIN?

If you have a Borrower's Card, but are not a current UNCW student, staff or faculty, you will need a Library PIN to renew materials online that you have checked out. To create your PIN:

Access the PIN Login screen
Enter your first or last name
Enter your ID (the barcode on your Borrower's Card)
Enter a library PIN up to 30 letters, numbers, or both. Do not use symbols.
If this is the first time you have set a PIN, the next screen will ask you to enter the PIN twice.
Your PIN is now set.

If you have any difficulty, please contact the Research Help Desk at 910-962-3760.

Where can I park when I visit the library?

If you are not a UNCW student, faculty or staff member, you can use the Visitor Lot located off Riegal Road and Price Drive (near the intramural fields).
There are also a few metered spaces in the Library Lot on the north side of the library off Randall Drive.
Find more information on parking.