All visitors can visit Stanford Libraries for seven days a year at no cost. You must register at Green Library, the Art Library, or the East Asisa Library. When you register, you will be asked to present a physical and valid government-issued photo ID and to accept the terms of service, including having your photo taken.

In order to visit the libraries for more than seven days or to borrow library materials, you must purchase a fee-based library card.

PLEASE NOTE: As a private institution situated on its privately-owned property, Stanford has the legal right to bar anyone from any or all parts of its premises. Disruptive or inappropriate behavior of any kind may result in suspension of visitor access and borrowing privileges.

Visitor badges

Visitor badges are only issued at: Art Library, East Asia Library, and Green Library. Coordinate libraries (e.g., Business, Hoover, Law, Medical, and SLAC) and department libraries (Classics, Philosophy) have separate access requirements; please contact those libraries for details. Your visitor badge must be visible at all times while inside the Libraries and is non-transferable.

Acceptable government-issued IDs for visitor access:

• U.S. state-issued Driver's License or ID card
• U.S. passport or U.S. passport card
• Department of Defense military identification card (active duty or retired military and their dependents, and DoD civilians)
• Permanent resident card
• U.S. border crossing card
• Native American tribal photo ID
• Foreign government-issued passport, national ID card, or foreign driver's license 
• Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card

IDs must not be expired or reproduced in any form. Your registration information must match the information found on your government-issued ID.

The information you provide on our visitor registration platform is secure and not shared with any third parties. We do not capture or store driver’s license or passport numbers. Photos taken at registration are stored securely and follow Stanford's 6.1.1 Privacy and Access to Electronic Information policy.

Alumni

Alumni are elgible for an addition seven visits a year at no cost (fourteen total). You will need to show your Stanford Alumni Association membership card. Instructions are available at the Circulation & Privileges Desk at Green Library.  You also qualify for a discounted fee-based library card for additional access and borrowing privileges.

Wireless access

Visitor wireless internet access is available across campus and within the libraries. Wifi does not include access to licensed library online content and databases.

Public computers

A limited number of public computers are available at each branch library. Green Library has public computers near the Reference Center. Stanford Libraries reserves the right to limit the amount of time spent using public computers. Students, faculty, and staff have priority when computers and other library resources (e.g., group study rooms) are in high demand.

Electronic resources

Licensed electronic resources are available from computers located in the libraries. However, some databases are restricted to Stanford University faculty, staff, students, and other authorized Stanford-affiliated users. Contact individual libraries if you have questions about a specific online resource.

Tour groups

Tour-groups (of any size) or other large groups are not permitted inside Stanford Libraries buildings. No exceptions will be granted.

Field trips

On extremely rare occasions, field trips facilitated by a Stanford Librarian are permitted inside Stanford Libraries buildings.

Minors

Minors (under the age of 18) must be accompanied by an adult or legal guardian at all times. The legal guardian must have an acceptable government-issued ID. Minors are not eligible to purchase fee-based library cards.

Copiers and scanners

You must have a Cardinal Print visitor account to print or copy. Cardinal Print only accepts credit cards. Scanning is free. See Print, Copy, Scan for details.

See also

• Hours
• Accessibility
• Special Policies

For any questions or concerns, please contact Privileges.