Off-Campus Access

UNI students, faculty and staff can easily access library resources and services from off campus. Your CatID is used for remote access into licensed library resources.

To search the Library's licensed resources from your home or work computer, you need to be a currently enrolled UNI student, faculty or staff member. From the Library's website when you click on any link to a licensed database, ejournal or ebook, you should be taken to the university CatID login screen. If you don't use the Library's website to get to different resources, you may be taken to a vendor's website where UNI's CatID system is not recognized.

Rod Library

Services for Distance Learners

Rod Library is committed to giving UNI distance learners access to the Library's print and electronic collections in a timely manner so that students can successfully complete course assignments and university degrees without having to travel to campus. In order to receive Rod Library's extra document delivery services for distance learners, you must be taking a class through the Continuing Education and Special Programs Division, who will send all currently enrolled distance learners a brochure summarizing library services and a University ID card (per request). Guided Independent Study students receive a letter with their university ID number instead of a UNI ID card.

Metropolitan area for document delivery services

If you live within 20 miles from the Cedar Falls/Waterloo metropolitan area, you are as close to Rod Library as many of the on-campus students. The extra document delivery services for distance learners has been set up to help students who rarely travel to campus. If you live in one of the cities or towns listed below, you are considered within the Cedar Falls/Waterloo metropolitan area and don't qualify to receive the extra document delivery services.

  • Artesian
  • Buckingham
  • Cedar Falls
  • Denver
  • Dewar
  • Dike
  • Dunkerton
  • Eagle Center
  • Elk Run Hts.
  • Evansdale
  • Finchford
  • Gilbertville
  • Hudson
  • Janesville
  • Jesup
  • Klinger
  • La Porte City
  • New Hartford
  • Raymond
  • Shell Rock
  • Sinclair
  • Stout
  • Voorhies
  • Washburn
  • Waterloo
  • Waverly
Requesting books for distance learners

Library staff will check out and send most books owned by Rod Library to UNI distance learners. Use OneSearch! on the library home page to find books and then request the desired books through the ILLIAD system. Distance students can request books not owned by Rod Library using interlibrary loan (ILL) which also uses the ILLIAD system.

Books owned by Rod Library will be checked out and sent to the distance learning student's home address.  The library absorbs the cost of mailing books to distance learners. The distance learner is responsible for returning books to Rod Library.  Distance learners can return books by sending them through the mail (using the enclosed mailing label) or by dropping them off at Rod Library. Rod Library has access to over 60,000 electronic books.

Please remember that you will have books not owned by Rod Library for a shorter amount of time than an on-campus student because time is allowed for mailing back to the lending library by their due date. 

Requesting articles for distance learners

Please see the requesting materials webpage for step-by-step instructions on this service.

Using other libraries

Public Libraries

In some instances, you may be able to obtain the information and materials you need at your local library. You can also use your local library card at all public libraries in the state of Iowa.

FastTRAC Libraries

As a UNI student, you may use the libraries at University of Iowa, St. Ambrose University, Drake University, University of Northern Iowa, Allen College, Wartburg College, Hawkeye Community College, Iowa State University, Grand View College, Creighton University and Grinnell College. You will have walk in borrowing privileges at these institutions with your UNI ID.

For more information about FastTrac see https://library.uni.edu/find-borrow-request/borrowing-materials/fasttrac