Alumni Library Services

As McMaster alumni, graduates of McMaster University are entitled to borrowing privileges at Mills Memorial Library, Innis Library (reopening 2024/25), Thode Science & Engineering Library and Health Sciences Library.

Please note: Starting December 12, 2022, Alumni will use the email address we have on file to access electronic resources.

Alumni E-Resources Application

Alumni Library Services - Borrowing

Your responsibilities as a borrower

  • Alumni are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Library Regulations or the Health Sciences Library Regulations Governing Behaviour.
  • Misuse of the library card or failure to respond to notices will result in the withdrawal of borrowing privileges.
  • Cards may be used only by the holder and are not transferable.
  • Borrowing cards can be renewed provided that no materials are overdue and outstanding charges are paid.

Borrowing Restrictions

Services that cannot be extended to alumni because of the teaching and research needs of our faculty and currently registered students, are:

  • borrowing of journals or magazines
  • borrowing of maps and aerial photographs
  • borrowing of items located on reserve
  • interlibrary loan/document delivery services - these services are made available through your local public library.
  • borrowing of any media-related equipment from Lyons New Media Centre & usage of its bookable rooms

Instructions

  • Please visit a library services desk at Mills, Thode or the Health Sciences Library during operating hours.
  • Photo identification showing a current address is required.
  • You will also be asked to provide a secondary contact method, which will only be used if we are repeatedly unable to reach you at your primary contact, especially in the case of overdue notifications, etc.
  • Cards will expire, and are eligible for renewal, after two years.

Loan Periods

  • Alumni may check out circulating materials from Mills and Thode libraries for a 28 day period and up to 40 items may be on loan at one time.
  • Reserve materials may not be borrowed.
  • Any book may be renewed unless it has been requested by another user (limit of 2 online renewals per item).
  • For alumni borrowing responsibilities and restrictions at the Health Sciences Library, visit their Borrowing page and scroll down to the Alumni section.

Making a gift to the library

Remember all those long hours you spent in the library? Help us provide the services and resources for students just like you by making a gift to McMaster University Library. Alumni support has helped us provide teaching and learning spaces, group study rooms, and scholarly resources for the entire McMaster community.

You can make a gift online or contact University Advancement at giving@mcmaster.ca  or by phone at (905) 525-9140 ext. 24224.

If you wish to donate to the Health Sciences Library, see HSL's information on Supporting the Library.

Make a gift online today

Online Resources for Alumni

Electronic Resources available for use by Alumni

While most databases and e-journals are not available to alumni from off campus due to licensing restrictions, the library is able to offer remote access to the following resources.

If you do not have an Alumni Library Card but would like online access, you can fill out the Alumni E-Resources Application request form to obtain a barcode (this barcode can also be used to borrow physical library items, provided you have photo ID).

Please note: You must always access these resources from this page, as your Alumni Access account will not be recognized if you try to access these resources from the library catalogue or website.

Cambridge University Press JournalsLeading, peer-reviewed journals in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.

Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) Freely accessible articles.

Eighteenth Century Journals (Adam Matthew Digital) Rare journals printed between c1680 and 1816, illuminating all aspects of eighteenth-century social, political and literary life.

Erudit Access to 59 Canadian peer-reviewed journals, published mainly in French.  Includes a few bilingual and English titles.

JSTOR Journal Archives Over 2700 journals, from their first issue onwards. JSTOR is an archival collection, providing long back runs of titles.  The most recent 3-5 years of content may not be available.  Provided through funding from the Alumni Association.

Periodicals Archive Online (PAO) A major journal archive that provides backfiles, primarily in the social sciences and humanities, from their first volume up to 1995.  Restricted to alumni within Canada.

Classical Scores Library Not licensed for public performance

Smithsonian Global Sound Folk, popular, classical and world music, speeches, and oral histories, delivered via streaming audio.

Theatre in Video Over 250 plays and 100 documentaries representing a range of periods and nationalities.

An online training database providing access to thousands of high-quality instructional videos on a broad range of topics in the areas of business, education, design, photography, programming, animation, video, audio and music. 

Register for LinkedIn Learning access through the McMaster Alumni Office.

On-campus Research

You are always welcome to visit any of our campus libraries and use our facilities. In addition to borrowing books, you can:

  • search our library catalogue of over 2 million items;
  • sign out books using your Alumni Library Card;
  • use our reference and periodicals collections;
  • use our self-serve printers/copiers once you have set up a PrintSmart account
  • search our hundreds of databases and thousands of e-journals/e-books on site, as a walk-in user; please note some e-resources do not permit access by walk-in users;
    • to access e-resources on-campus you will need a Temporary Guest Internet account (can be requested at Mills and Thode service desks); you cannot access these resources with your Alumni Access Account
  • get help using the library - ask questions by phone, email, or appointment. Click the ? in the top menu for more details.