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Visiting Scholars

A guide to USF Libraries resources and services for Visiting Scholars to the University of South Florida

Accessing Resources

Gaining Access to USF IT Services

Access to major USF IT services such as a NetIDs or a MyUSF account are automatically provided when a person becomes eligible, and automatically unassigned when a person is no longer eligible based their current affiliation with USF.

Visiting Scholars need to obtain a letter of introduction from their faculty or department department and provide this to their College Dean (or College accountable officer). This letter should include the proposed term of the visit and a guarantee of financial responsibility for fines, lost book fees, or other library obligations of the visiting faculty member. The College is responsible to convey this letter and approved affiliation to USF IT via GEMs. Once USF IT has entered the Visiting Scholar into the GEMs system, the Visiting Scholar is able to get a NetID, access to their MyUSF account, and a USF Courtesy ID card. 

Gaining Access to the USF Libraries

Circulating Materials

A USF ID card is required to borrow books from the USF Libraries.  Visiting Scholars are entitled to borrow up to 20 print books at a time for a 3-week loan period.  When they are ready to check out materials for the first time, the visiting scholar should present either their USF ID card or their Visiting Scholar department letter of introduction to the library front desk in order to be entered into the USF Libraries management system. Their library account, and borrowing privileges, will expire at the end of their Visiting Scholar appointment term. 

Electronic Resources

Due to contractual obligations, access to USF Libraries electronic materials is dependent upon obtaining a USF NetID and limited to the term of their appointment. Visiting Scholars will have to authenticate with their NetID to gain access to these materials.

Interlibrary Loan

Visiting Scholars can make use of interlibrary loan privileges by working with their faculty sponsor to fill out a Visiting Scholar Interlibrary Loan Form

By completing this form, the faculty sponsor agrees to be responsible for any lost book charges incurred by the visiting scholar, the bill for which will be forwarded to the faculty sponsor.  Visiting scholars can then register with the Interlibrary loan service at USF, by logging into ILLiad with their NetID and password via the log in buttons on the main ILL page