Accepted Outside Borrowers Cards

UH Libraries accepts a number of outside borrowers cards for those not affiliated with the University of Houston.

Questions? Contact us or call the Service Desk at MD Anderson Library at (713) 743-9710.

Library Associates and Expanded Associates Cards

Library Associates and Expanded Associates Cards are available for purchase by visitors at the Service Desk in MD Anderson Library. UH Libraries accepts credit cards (Visa/MasterCard/Discover) and checks made payable to “University of Houston.”

Library Associates Card

  • $75 / year
  • Borrow up to 10 items
  • Up to 2 media items at a time
  • 6 week loan period
  • No interlibrary loan service
  • Paging services available


Expanded Associates Card

  • $150 / year
  • Borrow up to 30 items
  • Up to 5 media items at a time
  • 6 week loan period
  • Up to 10 interlibrary loan active transactions at a time
  • Paging services available

Photo ID must be given along with the card each time it is used. Overdue items will result in loss of all privileges until renewed or returned. Associates may renew items as many times as needed as long as accounts are valid.

Cardholders must be at least 18 years of age. Cards valid for 12 months from date of issue at UH main, UH Clear Lake, and UH Downtown libraries.

Cards do not include remote access to electronic resources or to the Law Library at UH Law Center. Non-transferable and non-refundable.

TexShare card

Visitors from participating TexShare libraries may borrow materials from UH Libraries using the TexShare card. Learn more about TexShare at the Texas State Library.

  • Borrow up to 4 items
  • Borrow items for 6 weeks
  • Items renewable once

Visitors to UH must have a TexShare card from their institution before coming to UH Libraries to borrow materials. Borrowed materials must be returned to UH Libraries. TexShare cannot be used at the Law Library at UH Law Center.

TexShare cards are available to all current UH students, faculty, and staff. Cardholders can borrow materials from a number of libraries across Texas. Apply for a TexShare card at the Service Desk in MD Anderson Library.

OCLC Borrowers Card   

Visitors from participating OCLC libraries with valid OCLC Borrowers Cards may borrow materials from UH Libraries.

  • Borrow up to 20 items
  • 6 week loan period
  • Up to 3 renewals
  • Borrow up to 2 videos for 3 weeks each
  • Does not include remote access to electronic resources

The OCLC Borrowers Card enables holders to check out materials at certain libraries throughout the US. UH faculty members may apply for this card at the Service Desk in MD Anderson Library.

A directory of libraries that honor the OCLC card is available on the OCLC website.