Alum Access

On-Site Access: Barnard and Columbia Alums have free access to use Barnard Library collections on site or to visit the study spaces on LL-5. Our seating is priority for current Barnard and Columbia undergraduate students. During weekdays before 6pm, the Barnard Library is open to all visitors. When the Library is open after 6pm or on the weekends, card swipe is required to access the collection areas and study spaces. You can get a swipe card by visiting the Library Information Office in Butler Library with a current photo ID.

Digital Access: Barnard and Columbia Alums have free access to a range of online databases.

Borrowing: We provide free access to Barnard College Alums to borrow from the Barnard Library collection at the Milstein Center for Teaching and Learning.

To set up borrowing privileges, visit the Barnard Library Circulation & Help Desk on the 2nd floor of the Library in the Milstein Center for Teaching and Learning. You'll need a photo ID, for example, your Barnard Alum ID card from the Barnard Alumnae Office.

To borrow materials, you'll show your photo ID. The Barnard Library loan period for alums is four weeks.

Renewing: To renew materials, you have three options: you can bring them to the Circulation & Help Desk to renew in person, email library@barnard.edu, or call the Circulation & Help Desk at 212-854-3938.

Computers: Short-term use stations are freely available for catalog searches or quick emails related to your use of the collections. A UNI is not needed for these 10-minute stations.

To use a computer for a longer period of time at Barnard Library, you will need an active UNI.

Printing: To print, you will need a UNI to use the PawPrint stations. Visit the online PawPrint Center and add money there, then use your UNI to print from a computer here at Barnard.

Scanning: We have three scanners you can use free of charge and send the scanned document to your email, save on your flashdrive, or upload to your cloud storage. A UNI is not needed for the scanners.

UNI Activation: You will need a Columbia-issued ID to activate or recover your UNI online. If you have a Columbia-issued ID, visit Manage My UNI. At this website, you can reset your password or find your UNI.

To get a Columbia-issued ID, visit the Library Information Office in Butler Library.

To activate or recover your UNI without an ID, visit CUIT in 202 Philosophy Hall.

The Barnard Archives and Special Collections document the history of the College and provide source material to students, staff, alums, faculty, and administrators, and other members of the Barnard College and Columbia University communities, as well as to local, national, and international researchers, activists, and artists. We also seek to grow Special Collections materials that relate to broader issues of Feminism; Women’s, Sexuality, and Gender Studies; and the history of dance.

If you are interested in researching any aspect of the history of Barnard, or if you have materials from your time at Barnard that you would like to donate, please contact us at archives@barnard.edu or visit archives.barnard.edu.

The CEP holds periodic public events showcasing innovative and equitable pedagogy. Alums are welcome to attend and participate. To find out about upcoming events, visit their website.

Alums are welcome to sign up for Center programs and events. Alum access to the Design Center will be limited, and requires general safety certification and training on specialized equipment. The Design Center encourages interested alums to email to inquire about open spaces in workshops and for consultations with staff.

The Digital Humanities Center works closely with faculty to support the ideation, creation, and execution of digital humanities methodologies and projects. Although class-based workshops are restricted to students and faculty, the DHC welcomes alums to attend most public facing programming. The DHC hosts a wide variety of events and programming such as book talks, open workshops, and guest lectures. Alums are also welcome to request an appointment over email for a digital project consultation, and are encouraged to join the listserv to stay on top of all DHC related news and events.

Alums are invited to attend workshops, center programming, and events at the Media Center. The post production lab is always open to alums and you can take advantage of the walk-in help hours as well as request tutorials and consulting with staff.

The ERC offers dedicated workshops in Excel (basic, introductory, and intermediate) for Alums (in partnership with Beyond Barnard) during each semester. Alums are also welcome to join any open workshops throughout the academic year. You can also email for appointments (currently enrolled undergraduates are the priority, but the ERC has always been able to accomodate appointments for alums) or drop in to walk in hours. Alums can also use the ERC computer lab when workshops are not in session (and as long as there is enough seating for undergraduates who are in the lab for walk-in support).

Equipment checkout is available only for current students. Alums are welcome to attend any IMATS programming and technology events.

The Movement Lab offers workshops in interactive design, motion capture and more. They also have a monthly Salon which can be a lecture demonstration or a sharing of work in progress in an informal setting. All are free and open. Aside from the scheduled department classes in the space, during open hours (see calendar) alums can come, explore and use the space under supervision. For other private lab times, a training is required. Best is to email or use the reservation form on the website.

Alums are welcome to attend CSC programming, from workshops to social events, as long as there is space available. To avoid any potential scheduling conflicts with classes, researchers, and extra-help sessions, the collaboration space, lounge, and 516 classroom are open to alums on an appointment-only basis. Alums should contact the CSC to schedule a time to use these spaces.

You may access Columbia Libraries and use collections on site for free. Card swipe is required. You can get a swipe card by visiting the Library Information Office in Butler Library with a current photo ID.

A library account with borrowing privileges for the whole Columbia Libraries system can be purchased for $30.00 per month at the Library Information Office. With this account, you can renew books online, and obtain information about your account by connecting to “My Library Account" in CLIO.