Q. I’m an employee (or affiliate) with the University experiencing a problem with my library account. What’s going on, and how do I get it fixed?

Library privileges are determined by your appointment in Workday, the University’s system for personnel and financial management. Data from Workday is loaded into the library’s system after the end of each business day, creating and updating library accounts automatically. Having an active library account is needed to sign into UMD Discover and to borrow library materials.  

A detailed list of privileges available to UMD-affiliated users is available on the Libraries’ Borrowing Privileges webpage, but in general, they fall into one of three categories:

• No library privileges: Basic Affiliates, Discovery District Affiliates
• Borrowing privileges for UMD Libraries (only): Regular Affiliates, Employee Designees 
• Full library privileges (including borrowing privileges for USMAI libraries, off-campus access to e-resources, and interlibrary loan): Faculty, Staff, Retirees, Research Affiliates 

Issues with library accounts are usually due to one of the following: 

• Appointment has not yet been approved at all levels 
• Appointment has expired and/or a new appointment has not yet begun 
• Appointment type does not confer borrowing or full library privileges 
• Library services or Library Online Databases were not assigned as part of the appointment 
• Block on your library account 

We recommend that new employees and affiliates wait 1-2 business days after their appointment officially begins before trying to use library services to allow time for their data to load. Library users experiencing problems after that timeframe should email askmckcirc@umd.edu or visit the McKeldin Library Services Desk (M-F, 9-5) to report it. When contacting us, please provide a PDF or screenshot of your Job Details in Workday to aid with troubleshooting. We’ll check our system and review your Workday job details, then advise if you should contact your department’s hiring authority and HR Analyst for further assistance.