Here's everything you need to know about borrowing materials from Decker Library.

Find out what kind of items you can borrow and for how long, as well as how to renew, pay fines, place materials on hold, and what to do if you cannot locate an item in our library.

Questions? Contact Access Services at 410-225-2272 or circ@mica.edu.

General Borrowing Information

You'll be asked to present either a MICARD, Current Baltimore Academic Libraries Consortium (BALC) card, Alumni card, or Johns Hopkins University ID card. See specific information below.

The Film & Video Collection includes movies and television on DVD or Blu-Ray.

Returning Items

If the library is closed, you can still return items! Use the drop box located at the main entrance of the library (first floor, Bunting Center). 

Recall

 

A recall happens when one person has a library item checked out and another patron requests it. 

Any MICA affiliate can recall an item that you have checked out. 

Recalled items are given a NEW due date, which is in seven calendar days from when it is requested. You will get an e-mail with the new due date.

If you need material that is checked out but you don't want to recall it, you can instead request it through interlibrary loan.

Borrowing Policies

  • 50 books for 6 weeks
  • 5 Film & Video items  for 2 weeks

Items can be renewed 3 times. If more renewals are needed, items will need to be brought into the library to renew.

  • 50 books for 1 semester
  • 5 Film & Video items  for 2 weeks

If a book is needed longer than the length of a semester, please contact Access Services at circ@mica.edu or stop by the library. 

If you need more time with film and video, items will need to be brought into the library to renew.

  • 50 total items 
  • Book checkout for 1 semester
  • Film & Video checkout for 2 weeks

If a book is needed longer than the length of a semester, please contact Access Services at circ@mica.edu or stop by the library. 

If you need more time with film and video, items will need to be brought into the library to renew.

  • 50 books for 6 weeks
  • 5 Film & Video items  for 2 weeks

Items can be renewed 3 times. If more renewals are needed, items will need to be brought into the library to renew.

Alumni may purchase an alumni library card for $25 per year to borrow 15 items. 

Alumni are welcome to continue using Decker Library. Purchase an alumni card by visiting the library service desk.

  • Up to 15 items, 5 of which may be Film & Video.
  • Books: Up to 15 for 6 weeks and 3 renewals.
  • Film and Video Collection: 5 items total for 2 weeks and 3 renewals

If more renewals are needed, items will need to be brought into the library to renew.

Alumni can still access Decker Library databases, ebooks, image assets, or streaming video on-site, but due to contract restrictions, you will no longer be able to view them off-site. Alumni are also not eligible for interlibrary loans, BALC, or JHU borrowing privileges.

 

  • Books: 50 books total for 3 weeks
  • Film and Video Collection: 5 items total for 1 week

Items can be renewed 3 times. If more renewals are needed, items will need to be brought into the library to renew.

  • Books: 20 books for 35 days
  • Film & Video Collection: Not available for Pre-College Students (sorry!)

Books cannot be renewed.

Libraries that are part of the Baltimore Academic Library Consortium (BALC) offer borrowing privileges to users of other libraries. MICA students can utilize and borrow from libraries that are part of BALC and vice versa.

Borrowers have to present a MICA ID to enter BALC libraries. Each library has its borrowing policies, so please contact the library you're interested in visiting to learn more about borrowing. Borrowers from other institutions may borrow up to 5 books from Decker Library.

The following libraries are part of BALC:

  • Goucher College
  • Loyola/Notre Dame Library
  • McDaniel College
  • Morgan State University
  • Towson University
  • University of Baltimore
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore County
  • Stevenson University

MICA students, staff, and faculty can visit Johns Hopkins Library. For entry you will need: 

  • Picture ID
  • Proof of Covid vaccinations
  • Masks (optional, but encouraged)

You are eligible to get a community card to check out books. A sticker on the back of the card will allow you to login to public computers in the building. You can stop by their public services desk to update your stickers if you had pre-existing cards or get new ones. Hopkins also have an online application for Borrowing Privileges available now, where they can make your card in advance.

Many databases have walk-in access on site, but this is gradually tightening due to IT security restrictions and changes that sometimes require single sign on (institutional login only). A list of the databases that require JHU University ID logins are on our FAQ.

The public computers have a two hour time-out (the timer is on the desktop and can be reset when they start using the computer). You can either print or save PDFs to a thumb drive, although printing often requires purchasing of a copy card. Should you run into any problems, ask for assistance at the Service Desk.

Get an Enoch Pratt Free Library card

We highly recommend everyone at MICA apply for an Enoch Pratt Free Library card, which is the public library in Baltimore City. You do not need to be a Baltimore City resident in order to apply. You can request a physical card or eCard. If you have any questions about applying for a Pratt Library card, please let us know by contacting us at circ@mica.edu.