On this page:
Borrowing from University Libraries in Ontario (non-Omni Libraries)
Patrons from Collaborative Futures (OMNI) schools will only need their staff or student cards from their home institution to regular loan materials from each other. Partner universities: Algoma, Brock, Carleton, Guelph, Lakehead, Laurentian, McMaster, Nipissing, OCAD, Ontario Tech (UOIT), Ottawa, Queen's, Toronto Metropolitan University, Trent, Waterloo, Western, Wilfrid Laurier, Windsor, and York.
All Queen's students, staff, and faculty may borrow resources from participating Canadian universities and non-Collaborative Futures' schools under the terms of the Canadian Academic Libraries Resource Sharing Agreement (2026). The one exception is the University of Toronto (U of T), which restricts the inter-university borrowing privilege to faculty and graduate students only and charges a fee for library privileges.
Students and staff from U of T may apply for a Queen's library card by filling in an application form and by presenting a valid student card from their home university along with another piece of personal identification.
RMC students and faculty can set up an account at any of our service points by presenting a valid student or staff card.
Borrowing from University Libraries elsewhere in Canada
As of January 2026, four library consortia have partnered to establish an updated resource sharing agreement, the Canadian Academic Libraries Resource Sharing Agreement, that includes cross-country lending of physical materials, e-resources sharing, and in-person borrowing at Canadian Universities and colleges.
By means of this agreement, in-person borrowing privileges have been extended to students, faculty and staff from most Canadian university libraries from coast to coast. All that is required for borrowing at a signatory library is a valid Queen's University student or staff card. Where additional verification is needed, participating libraries provide user confirmation to one another by phone or email.
In advance of making your trip to another Canadian university, check the destination library's own loan policies, as borrowers are governed by the regulations of the lending library. In addition, borrowers are expected to return items to the lending site when this site is not located in Ontario or Quebec.
Students, faculty and staff from other signatory Canadian university libraries may, upon presentation of their institutional ID, apply for borrower privileges at Queen's University Library.
Participating Canadian Libraries
As part of the Canadian Academic Libraries Resource Sharing Agreement (January 2026), in-person reciprocal borrowing is available to undergraduates, graduates, staff, and faculty at partner libraries across the country in accordance with their local policies and procedures.
Valid institutional identification is accepted as proof of borrowing eligibility. Where additional verification is needed, a user's home library can provide user confirmation upon request.
Partnering Libraries:
Borrowing from University Libraries in the United States
Queen's University Library (along with many other North American academic research libraries) is a member of the OCLC Consortium, which offers a reciprocal borrowing program, for faculty only, among the organization's member libraries.
Faculty who wish to make use of this service must, in advance of their trip to the U.S., apply at the Stauffer Library Information desk during regular business hours. To view active OCLC member libraries visit the Directory of OCLC Members page at OCLC.org.