Library cards for members of the general public over the age of eighteen, upon presentation of a current, government-issued photographic ID, are $100 per year. These cards may not be purchased for increments of less than one year, and are available at the Biomedical Library and Research Library circulation desks.

Library cards are generally issued only to individuals. Institutions or corporations should ordinarily purchase separate cards with limited usage for each individual who wants to borrow materials. If this is inadequate for research needs, a higher-limit card with more extensive privileges is available for an initial fee of $1,000; the renewal fee for subsequent years will be based on the number of circulation transactions during the previous year. A representative of the corporation or institution should contact the head of access services in the Charles E. Young Research Library for more information.

External users are limited to five circulating items at one time, one renewal per item, and cannot recall items checked out to other users. (UCLA Extension instructors and faculty members at accredited institutions of higher education in the state of California have a borrowing limit of 200 items and no renewal or recall restrictions.)

Users who need more than five circulating items at one time can purchase a library card for a fee that will cover the cost of providing additional services. To borrow up to ten items at a time with four renewals per item, and recall items checked out to other users, a card is available for $250 per year. Fees are payable by check or credit card. Fee cards are nonrefundable.