The New University ID Card

Beginning Monday, August 20, 2007, staff in the Library Information Office (LIO) will begin to issue the new University ID cards to long-term visitors, Columbia University Alumni and Friends of the Library.  These cards will not use social security numbers, and will instead use the new Unique Card Number (UCN).  Each individual will receive only one card even if they have multiple roles at the University.  All University roles or affiliations will be printed on the back of the card.

The new cards that are produced by LIO staff will provide access to the buildings that the CU Libraries are located in as well as the Libraries themselves.  For those who are entitled to or pay for borrowing privileges, the new card will support this access as well.

There will be a transition period for library visitors who were issued the old photo ID to replace those IDs with the new ID card.

Columbia students, faculty and staff will be receiving information about how the card replacement process will work for them.

Short term visitors to the CU Libraries will continue to receive paper cards for their visits.

Beginning January 2008, the cost of the new ID card will be $20 except for Columbia alumni and Friends of the Library. 

General information about the new cards for CU students, faculty and staff may be found here.