Student Library Cards
New students can register for library privileges as soon as they get their CCA ID card. You must present your CCA ID card when checking out materials.
Students may checkout:
- Books for 14 days
- Videos and magazines for 7 days
- Reserve items for 2-3 hours or 2 days
- Materials Library Samples for 7 days
Checkout limits:
- Undergraduates: 15 items, 6 renewals
- Graduates: 20 items, 9 renewals
- Videos and magazines: 5 out a time, 3 renewals
- Reserves: 2 at a time, no renewals
- Materials Library Samples: 8 items, 6 renewals
Patrons may renew most checked-out materials within 4 days of the due date. Items with holds may not be renewed.
All library materials must be checked out from and returned to the San Francisco campus library. The requests, or holds, can be placed from the online catalog and will be held for pickup at the circulation desk for up to 1 week.
Instructions for placing and picking up holds may be found here
Hold limits:
- Undergraduates: 6 at a time
- Graduates: 10 at a time
It is each borrower's responsibility to know and honor due dates. Patrons may be charged late fines or fees for overdue materials. Borrowers are responsible for the replacement of items lost or damaged due to negligence.
Lost or damaged items will be charged a replacement fee equal to the the current cost of the item.
Library fines may be paid in person by cash or check, or by card here.
Book sale items and CCA/C merchandise may be purchased in person by cash or check, or by card here.
Inter-library loan materials may accrue additional fees if significantly overdue, damaged, or lost.
Scanning and Copying
The libraries are offering limited scanning services to students. Please email us with the book or article title you need scanned, including page numbers.
Pre-College & non-degree student privileges
Pre-College students have special privileges and may borrow up to five books and videos. All items are due on the Friday before the session ends. Non-degree students who are enrolled in one or more CCA course for credit, including those in fellows and certificate programs, have the same privileges as full-time students.
CCA Extension student privileges
CCA Extension students who are not enrolled in a CCA degree program or a CCA course for credit do not have library borrowing privileges, but they are welcome to use library resources and services on-site. This includes students in Summer Atelier and Young Artists Studio.
San Francisco Public Libraries
The San Francisco Public Library offers free library cards to California residents, giving access to academic databases, historical newspapers, and broad general interest collections. The San Francisco History Center contains maps and historic photographs of the City.
A card from SFPL also allows you to borrow books from participating libraries around California and Nevada.
Alumni Library Cards
All alumni have continued access to the CCA Libraries as part of their Alumni Association benefits. Alumni living in the Bay Area are also able to check out books with an annual membership.
Borrowing privileges are complimentary for the first year after graduation; thereafter cards are $25 per year. For alumni who graduated in Spring 2020 or later, your free 1 year membership to check out books will begin upon your first visit to either Library.
When visiting Simpson Library, please bring photo ID showing proof of local address.
Alumni may check out a maximum of 10 items, with one renewal.
- Books - 2 weeks
- Current magazines and videos - 1 week
Most of the library collections are available for alumni use, with a few restrictions:
- Alumni may use the library's commercial databases only while in the library.
- Inter-library loan services are not available for alumni.
- Alumni are not included in CCA's online printing account system, and therefore are unable to print from computers in the libraries.
The $25 annual alumni card fee may be paid in person at the library or online.