North Carolina residents (over 18 years of age and out of high school) may purchase a Borrower's Card, valid for one year, for $25.00 upon presentation of a valid North Carolina driver's license or a valid picture ID along with a document containing a current N.C. address. The $25.00 fee is waived for residents over 60 years of age.
Acceptable forms of ID are:
- Government-issued driver's license or ID
- Military, tribal, or other photo ID
- Passport
- School or work photo ID
- If the ID does not show the North Carolina address, additional proof of address is needed: utility bill, lease agreement, tax document, Medicaid card, voter registration, etc. Digital versions or paper copies are both acceptable.
NC Resident borrowers may have as many as four (4) items checked out.
UNCW Library provides an extensive array of electronic databases, most of which are available to the general public on guest computers or on the guest wireless network in the library. Learn more about how to access guest computers.
Please remember that borrowing privileges are not transferable with one exception. High school students enrolled in grades 9-12 may be added as an authorized user to a parent or guardian borrower's card. Learn more about high school student borrowing.
NC Resident Borrower's Table
| Patron Type | Fee | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| NC Resident | $25 | Valid photo ID |
| UNCW Alumni | $10 | Valid photo ID/must be NC Resident |
| NC Resident 60+ | $0 | Valid photo ID |
| Friends of UNCW | $0 | Active members of the Board of Directors of the Friends of UNCW |
| UNC System Students, Faculty, and Staff | $0 | Valid School ID; proof of good standing at home library |
| NC Community College Students | $7 | Valid Community College ID |
| High School Students | $7 | Parent or Legal Guardian Sponsorship required |
| Southeast NC Teachers | $7 | Valid photo ID and proof of employment |
Loan Period
- 28 days for books from the General Collection, Children’s Collections, and Government Documents.
- 21 days for books from the New & Popular Collection.
- 7 days for audiobooks, DVDs, VHS tapes, and CDs
- All other items are for in-building use only.
Restrictions
- Computer use is limited to guest computers.
- NC Resident Borrowers are not eligible for group study room reservations, laptop checkout, or remote access to licensed resources.
- NC Resident Borrowers are not eligible to place requests or holds for items.
- NC Resident Borrowers are not eligible to request items through UNCW's Interlibrary Loan. Please use your local public library for this service.
Renewals
- You may renew materials online, by phone at (910) 962-3272, in-person at the Library Help Desk, or reply to the courtesy notice sent to the email address you provided. If another person has placed a hold (request) on an item, renewal is not permitted.
Overdue, Damage, and Replacement Charges
- If items are not renewed or returned by the due date replacement costs will be charged for items that are at least 14 days overdue. The bill will include the replacement cost and a $15 non-refundable billing fee per item. If items are returned to the Library within two months after a bill has been issued, a waiver of the replacement charge(s) may be requested but the non-refundable billing fee(s) will not be waived.
- Payment may be made by check (made out to UNCW), cash (exact change only) or with Visa, Discover, or MasterCard at the Library Help Desk.
Returning Books
- Books may be returned in person anytime the library is open for business. There are also two outside book drops that are available 24/7. One book drop is free standing and located in the Library parking lot (Library Lot) on the library's north side off Randall Dr. The second outdoor book drop is an in-building drop and located on the library's south side, facing the ponds.
Questions about using the library? Please contact us. Questions about this policy may be sent to rlcirculation@uncw.edu.
Reviewed July 2025.