Breaking Down Barriers to Knowledge: Western Libraries Waives Fees for Community Members
Published on January 20, 2025
Western Libraries is pleased to announce that it is waiving its borrowing fees for members of the general public and organizations, granting them free access to most of its extensive print collections and services.
Previously, organizations were charged an annual fee of $500, while individuals paid $35 for three months or $100 for a year of access. The decision acknowledges the importance of reducing barriers to information access for individuals and organizations not currently affiliated with the University. Removing these barriers aligns with the accessibility and inclusion goals of both Western Libraries and the University as a whole.
"We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn, discover, and engage with knowledge, regardless of their affiliation or background," says Geoffrey Robert Little, vice-provost and chief librarian of Western Libraries. "By removing these fees, we are reinforcing our commitment to supporting the intellectual curiosity and research needs of our entire community."
Organizations and individuals can leverage their free access to support a variety of needs and activities, including research or professional development, program or service development, advocacy and policy work, industry-specific research, grant writing, and more. Western Libraries encourages anyone requiring access to research materials and services to apply for guest borrower privileges.
Guest borrowers will be able to enjoy most library services, including borrowing privileges for most materials, and the ability to utilize services and library spaces that are open to the public at Western Libraries and its affiliated university college libraries. Some restrictions apply, such as exclusion from interlibrary loans, and off-campus access to certain digital resources due to licensing agreements.
For more information on guest borrower access and services, please visit the Western Libraries website.
