AUSTIN, Texas (September 5, 2000)–Thanks to the newly expanded TexShare Card Program that includes not only university, college, and community college libraries but also public libraries throughout Texas, UT Austin students, staff, and faculty can now obtain a TexShare Library Card at the UT Austin General Libraries to use to check out circulating materials in libraries throughout Texas.

Members of the UT Austin community can obtain a TexShare Library Card from the Courtesy Borrower Desk, Perry-Castañeda Library 2.122, during the hours the Desk is open. Details on hours of operation are available at www.lib.utexas.edu/about/hours/.

Borrowers 18 and older from participating public libraries can obtain the same TexShare Library Card from their library to authorize them to check out circulating materials from libraries on the UT Austin campus.

• Visit your library to obtain a TexShare Card. Please note that not all libraries participate in the Program. Check the TexShare Web site at www.texshare.edu/programs/card/index.html to find out if your library participates. Currently participating public libraries in Central Texas include those in Westlake Hills (Westbank Community Library), Bastrop, Georgetown, Lampasas, Round Rock, Smithville, and Waco-McLennan County. The Austin Public Library will begin participating in this program in the early fall.
  
• Present your TexShare card and a photo ID (such as a Texas driver's license) at the Courtesy Borrower Desk, Perry-Castañeda Library 2.122, during the hours the Desk is open. Details on hours of operation are available at www.lib.utexas.edu/About/hours>.
  
• You will be issued a Courtesy or Special Borrower Card that you may use to check out circulating materials from General Libraries collections.

Jo Anne Hawkins, General Libraries Associate Director for Public Services, emphasizes, "The General Libraries welcomes new and continuing TexShare borrowers, especially those from public libraries who wish to use our collections. We also encourage members of the UT Austin community to take advantage of this expanded access offered by public libraries throughout the state."

More information about General Libraries lending policies for TexShare borrowers is available on the Web at: www.lib.utexas.edu/Libs/PCL/circ/texshare.html.

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For more information contact:
Suzanne McAnna
Circulation Services Department
The General Libraries
(512) 495-4303
mcanna@mail.utexas.edu