Unaffiliated Borrowers Program

Beginning July 5, 2022 the Law Library will provide an annual membership program (July 1 – June 30) for unaffiliated borrowers. This program allows members to borrow circulating print materials from the library’s general collection, as specified below.

Who May Borrow Books:


Alumni: UC Law SF alumni may submit an application for a UC Law SF Unaffiliated Borrower card, which will entitle them to borrow library materials as described below.

Law Firm Libraries: Any law firm located in California with a librarian who is a member of either the Northern California Association of Law Libraries, Southern California Association of Law Libraries, or American Association of Law Libraries is eligible for a corporate membership. The law firm librarian must submit an application on the firm’s behalf and pay the annual membership fee in the amount specified below.  Firm libraries will be issued a UC Law SF Unaffiliated Borrower card that can be used by any member or employee of the firm upon approval by the firm librarian. The firm library is responsible for all charges and fines.

Government Agency Libraries: Any government agency library with a librarian located within the San Francisco Civic Center area is eligible for membership. The agency librarian must submit an application on the agency’s behalf.  Agency libraries will be issued a UC Law SF Unaffiliated Borrower card.  Agencies outside of the San Francisco Civic Center area may borrow books through interlibrary loan.

Annual Fees & Fee Cycle:

In order to enroll in the program, please complete the applicable application below. Unaffiliated Borrower cards are issued within 3-5 days of receipt of your application and payment.

  • UC Law SF Alumni: no annual fee; $15 one-time processing fee. Apply here. (Student ID badges for graduates do not expire until after the Summer California Bar Examination).  The annual renewal application is available here.
  • Law Firm Libraries: $400 per cycle and $15 one-time processing fee. Apply here. The annual renewal application is available here.
  • Government Agency Libraries: $15 one-time processing fee. Apply here. The annual renewal application is available here.

The annual fee cycle is July 1 through June 30.  All payments are nonrefundable.

Membership Privileges:

Registered patrons may borrow circulating print materials from the UC Law SF Library’s general collection, with the exception of titles in the Popular Fiction collection. Note: Most treatises and practice guides for which the Law Library has a current subscription do not circulate. Further, items located in Course Reserve, including gadgets, course textbooks and other short-loan titles do not circulate to Unaffiliated Borrowers. All UC Law SF Library patrons may access the Library’s public computer terminals, as well as Hastings’ guest Wi-Fi network. Photocopying services are limited.

Loan Period:

Books and materials in the general collection that circulate may be borrowed for either 7 or 30 days, depending on the item. Materials may be renewed once for the original loan period. Renewal requests can be denied if there is a hold on the material.

Borrowing Limits:

Individual borrowers have a three-item borrowing limit. Firms have a five-item limit and agencies a ten-item limit.

Membership Exclusions:

This account does NOT entitle members to the following:

  • Interlibrary loan services
  • Off-site access to the Library’s online databases (online access to selected databases is provided for all patrons within the Library)
  • Access to study rooms or classrooms
  • Document delivery services
  • Access to laptop computers and other equipment available for checkout

Library Fines and Charges:

An overdue fine of $.50 per day per item will be charged all individual and firm borrowers. If the overdue period exceeds 60 days the item shall be deemed lost. Borrowers shall then be charged for the replacement cost of the item plus a $35.00 processing fee. An item substantially damaged or defaced shall be deemed lost.  Fines and charges are payable as they become due. Failure to clear records will result in loss of borrowing privileges. Individual, law firm and government agency borrowers with any item 8 days or more overdue, or owing fines of $10.00 or more will not be allowed to borrow other material until all overdue material is returned and fines or charges are paid. If material is not returned within 30 days of billing notice, a collection agency may be employed. A borrower who flagrantly or persistently violates the borrowing rules shall have borrowing privileges suspended or terminated.

Photocopying and Scanning Services:

Xerox multi-function printers are located on the 4th floor and 5th floor of the Library and will work with your Unaffiliated Borrower Program card.  But before you begin, you must have funds available in your copy/print account balance in order to use the Xerox machines. Patrons should go to the Business Center, located on the 1st Floor of 200 McAllister Street to add funds to their Unaffiliated Borrower Program card. Alumni with an active UC Law SF email account may also deposit money onto a Pcounter web account and use one of the Xerox Multi-function Printers (MFPs) located around campus. Alumni interested in obtaining a UC Law SF email account, or in need of assistance with their email account, should complete this form.

Once you are ready to scan or copy, touch your Hastings ID Card (your Unaffiliated Borrower Program card) above the card reader at the device the machine.

Materials may also be scanned and saved to a USB Drive. The photocopiers do not have scan-to-email functionality.

Please consult the Business Center’s website for applicable fees, payment options, and hours of operation.

Contact Information:

If you have any questions concerning this program or the status of your application or account, please contact circulation@uclawsf.edu.