Using Area Libraries

Rensselaer faculty, staff and students with special borrower cards (DAP cards) issued by the Circulation Desks of the Architecture and Folsom Libraries may borrow books directly from many of the Capital District's academic, public, medical and technical libraries. Information about these libraries is available from the following pdf document: Direct Access Brochure. Use RensSearch's Other Library Catalogs webpage to access the online catalogs of area libraries.

Rensselaer retirees and alumni as well as spouses and dependents of Rensselaer faculty, staff and students can obtain DAP cards from their local public libraries.

ConnectNY

ConnectNY is a combined catalog of 5 participating academic libraries in New York State: Colgate University; Rensselaer; Rochester Polytechnic Institute; St. Lawrence University; and Vassar College. Library users from participating libraries may borrow materials from other Connect NY libraries if the books are not owned by their home library or if their library's copy is already checked-out. To request a book from another ConnectNY library, you will need your RIN and your Library PIN. Expect delivery within 2-3 days.

New York State Research Library

The New York State Research Research Library, located in downtown Albany (click for directions), is one of the largest research libraries in the state. Although many of its research colections must be used on site, Rensselaer users when at the library may borrow books directly or request that items from its circulating collections be forwarded to Rensselaer's Interlibrary Loan service.

Bennington College and Williams College

The libraries of Bennington and Williams Colleges also will lend to Rensselaer users upon presentation of a current Rensselaer ID card.