Services for Osher Lifelong Learning
Welcome to the University of Washington Libraries, the premier research library in the Pacific Northwest. Osher members are welcome to visit and use the Libraries' vast research collections held at our Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma campus libraries.
Borrowing Privileges for OLLI-UW Members
Members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the UW (OLLI-UW) are eligible for borrowing privileges with the UW Libraries. Members may check out materials at any UW Libraries branch using a Libraries borrower card. These borrowing privileges allow you access to an extensive collection of materials held at all UW Libraries, including the UW Bothell and UW Tacoma Libraries.
To obtain a borrower card as an Osher member, you will need to bring the registration letter that you receive from University of Washington Educational Outreach to Library Account Services, located on the first floor of Suzzallo Library, on the Seattle Campus. You may also email or fax your OLLI-UW registration letter to Library Account Services to have a borrower's card mailed to your home address.
Libraries Events and Exhibits
The UW Libraries regularly features a number of exhibits that feature our collections. We encourage you to visit the Libraries in person to see these exhibits.
To see an up-to-date list of exhibits and events, visit Libraries News and Events
Additionally, a number of self guided and audio tours are available for all visitors to the Libraries. Find out more here: Library Tours & Workshops.
The Libraries Digital Collections site showcases some of the online multimedia collections of the UW Libraries' Digital Initiative Programs.
Getting Help from a Librarian
OLLI-UW members can get help from UW librarians in person at each of our Libraries, as well as online via our 24/7 chat reference service and email reference help form.
To get maps, contact information and hours of operation of all UW Libraries, visit UW Libraries and Hours.
Click on the Ask Us! Link at the top of this page to talk with a librarian via chat, telephone, or email.
Finding Books
To locate items held in the UW Libraries collections, search the UW Libraries Catalog from any computer with an internet connection, including off-campus.
Wondering what's new in the UW Libraries collections? Visit our What's New page to learn about the changing collections across campus.
For help searching the catalog contact us directly, or use the Libraries Catalog Help Center. You can place a hold on materials that are currently checked out by clicking on the Request button at the top of the catalog screen.
When you obtain a UW Libraries borrower's card, you will also be given a login that allows you to see what items you have checked out, due dates, and place holds on materials so that they are ready for pickup. This can be done by visiting the Your Library Account link on the Libraries home page.
Newspapers, Microforms, Media and More
In addition to a collection of over 60 million individual book volumes, the Libraries holds a wide range of print and media materials that are accessible to Osher members. The Libraries' large collection of electronic resources, including electronic journals and books, can be accessed in the Libraries at the Guest Workstations.
The Microform and Newspaper Collections, housed in the ground floor of Suzzallo Library, contains a large current international and domestic newspaper collection, with an emphasis on Slavic, South and Southeast Asian papers and a selection of American and European papers.
The UW Libraries Media Center, located in the Odegaard Undergraduate Library, has the largest academic audiovisual media collection in the Northwest. While most Media Center materials can be checked out and borrowed, some fragile formats (e.g., vinyl sound recordings) or unique collections (e.g., Crocodile Cafe Collection) may only be viewed or listened to in the Media Center.
Special Collections, in the basement of Suzzallo Library, is the Libraries' major resource of rare and archival materials covering a broad range of topics, formats and periods. To learn more about visiting Special Collections and accessing these materials, visit Special Collections FAQ.