No active J-Card? Here are resources you’re eligible for.

The Eisenhower Library primarily serves the Johns Hopkins academic community; current faculty, students, and staff. However, we are happy to extend limited borrowing privileges to additional groups including alumni, JH retirees, members of partner organizations, and other community members.

What you can access with a community borrowing account

Community borrowing accounts grant limited library access to visitors without active J-Cards. These accounts allow you to request materials from our circulating print collections for pick up on the Homewood Campus.

We encourage visitors to reach out ahead of your visit to confirm we can provide the services you’re looking for. Community patrons must pick up materials from the MSE Library Annex during Service Desk open hours while the main Eisenhower building is being renovated. Materials may be returned at any JHU library book drop.

Please note that community borrowing privileges include the following limitations:

• No off-campus access to electronic resources.
• No access to Interlibrary Loan and Course Reserve Collections.
• Limited Access to the MSE Library Annex during the Milton S. Eisenhower renovation. Access is limited to visitors with Borrowing Accounts, and only during Service Desk hours (doors are J-Card access only).

How to get a community borrowing account

All visitors who would like a borrowing account must fill out a borrowing application.

Free and paid community borrowing accounts

Community borrowing accounts are offered free of charge to visitors with the following affiliations.

• JHU alumni
• JHU retirees
• Spouses, partners, and dependents of current JHU faculty, staff, and students of Homewood campus
• Friends of the Library (learn more about how to join Friends of the Libraries)
• Baltimore City Reciprocal Borrowing (UB, Morgan State) (Learn more about the Reciprocal Borrowing Program)
• Maryland Independent College and Universities Association (MICUA)
• Visitors from BorrowDirect libraries
• Baltimore Museum of Art eligible staff
• Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at JHU
• Space Telescope Science Institute staff and researchers
• Walters Art Museum professional staff

Other visitors may apply for a Borrowing Account at a rate of $50 per year.

JHU alumni

JHU Alumni retain an active JHED for 6 months after their commencement date. During this period, you have access to online materials, including databases and eBooks. Alumni who remain local may  request books from our collection for on-site pick up only. After 6 months, alumni can apply for a complimentary borrowing account. 

Did you know? The Alumni Association and the libraries have partnered to create Hopkins KnowledgeNet, the Alumni Online Library. Hopkins KnowledgeNet is an online library that gives you access to thousands of academic journals, articles and reference materials, as well as links to additional collections of online resources, digital libraries, and other Johns Hopkins publications.

JHU retirees

JHU retirees are eligible for a complimentary borrowing account. Emeritus Faculty are appointed by their department and retain their library privileges.

Apply for your complimentary borrowing account here.

Spouses and dependents of current JHU employees

The spouses, domestic partners, and dependents of current Homewood faculty, staff, and students are eligible for a complimentary Borrowing Account. The active Homewood patron must fill out the borrowing account form on their spouse / partner / child’s behalf.

Visitors from partner organizations

We encourage visitors to reach out via the borrowing account form or email us at circmail@jhu.libanswers.com ahead of your visit to confirm we have the services you are looking for. You must be in good standing with your home library to borrow with us. You can find a list of eligible partner organizations above.

Other local resources

All Maryland residents are eligible for a free Enoch Pratt Library card, which will grant you access to borrowing, electronic materials, interlibrary loan and many other services and resources.

If you are a Baltimore County resident (or if you have a library card from any other Maryland library), you are eligible for a free library card for the Baltimore County Public Library. This card grants you access to their collections both physical and digital, and many more services.

Questions? Email us at circmail@jhu.libanswers.com for assistance.