Library Services and Policies for Distance Learning Students

Florida Atlantic University offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate-level courses to students who are enrolled in online degree programs or take only online classes in a semester. The FAU Libraries strive to provide a level of support for distance learning students and faculty that is equivalent to what is provided on its campuses.

Who is eligible?

Any currently enrolled FAU student who enrolled in online degree programs or taking only online classes during a semester.
FAU faculty and instructors teaching online courses.

Library Resources and Services

The OWL Card

The FAU OWL Card is your library card! It is required for entering and exiting the library and borrowing items, and it has a 14-digit number used to access some library services.

Get Your OWL Card and OWL Card Number

Visit any of the OWL Card offices on FAU campuses.
Online students: Use the online form to make your request.

Online Library and E-Resources

Library Catalog: Find the Libraries' print and online materials, including books, eBooks, online journals, and more; use Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Document Delivery to have books sent to you.

Databases A-Z: The FAU Libraries offer many online e-resources such as newspapers, journals, streaming videos, and more. Databases may be general, like Academic Search Complete, or subject or discipline-specific, like MLA International Bibliography or CINAHL.
Research Guides: Don't know which library resources to use for your assignment? These guides have librarian-recommended resources such as books, journals, and databases for various subject areas and topic.
OpenAthens: OpenAthens authenticates current FAU affiliates so they have direct access to using the FAU Libraries' licensed electronic resources both on and off campus. See Open Athens FAQS for details.

Visit the Libraries' Distance Learning Research Guide for links to other commonly used online library resources and materials.

Borrowing Privileges

FAU distance learning students have borrowing privileges based on their patron category. Undergraduate students may borrow books for three weeks and can renew them online before their due date.

Patron Borrowing: See details and specific information about the number of books borrowed, loan periods, and related services.

UBorrow: Borrow books from other Florida state colleges and universities. See UBorrow FAQs for more information.

Florida State College and University System Libraries: With their OWL Card, distance learning students can borrow items at a college in Florida College System or a university in State University System of Florida.

Research Assistance: Ask a Librarian

Get help with your research from Research and Instructional Services Department in the following ways:

Phone: (561) 297-3785

Ask a Librarian / FAQs: Text or email your question; chat and FAQs are available 24/7.

Request a Research Consultation: Get librarian assistance by video conferencing (Zoom or Teams).

Video Tutorials: Brief videos that help with finding information, doing research, using library services, and creating citations.

Interlibrary Loan

Use Interlibrary Loan (ILL) to submit requests for books, journals and other library materials that are not available through the FAU Libraries. ILL also provides branch campus deliveries by providing FAU library materials from one of its campus libraries to another.

First-time Distance Learner Users: Log onto ILLiad, the Libraries' interlibrary loan system, and set up your preferences for your account.

While you are in your account:

When making a request, select "Distance Learner" in "Patron Status."
Students are responsible for updating their contact and mailing information in their ILLiad account.
Check the status of current and past requests.
For most articles, you will be notified via email that an electronic version of the item has been received. Log into your ILLiad account and click on the link to the PDF document.
For Distance Learners, your physical items (books, etc.) will be shipped to the address on file and should arrive in a few days.

More Information: Visit Interlibrary Loan FAQs.

Document Delivery

Through their ILLiad account, distance learners can request delivery of FAU-owned books by U.S. Mail and photocopies of journal articles by e-mail. These materials will be sent to the address provided in their account.

More Information: Visit ILL Delivery.

Course Reserves

FAU distance learning students who need to access online or electronic course reserve materials for their classes will find them on at FAU Libraries Course Reserves. Adobe Acrobat Reader may be required to download them. For any questions, call Course Reserves at 561-297-2632 (8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday).

FAU faculty who are teaching distance learning courses can provide online class materials by using the Course Reserves service.

More Information for Faculty: see Faculty Guidelines for FAU Course Reserves.

Get Help With Library Services and Common Technical Problems