The Howard-Tilton Memorial Library is a private library with public access whose primary mission is to serve the students, faculty and staff of Tulane University. Recognizing its value to the greater New Orleans community and its unique resources of broader interest, the library welcomes visitors and special borrowers, while expecting them first to have used their own school, public, or academic libraries. For more information regarding public access please see the library's Public Access Policy.
Community engagement is an important part of Tulane’s vibrant culture, and part of its mission is to foster community-building initiatives. Students and faculty at neighboring colleges and universities may visit and use Tulane’s main Howard-Tilton Memorial Library and its adjacent Tulane University Libraries Special Collections. These onsite visitors—often affiliated with other higher education institutions within the City of New Orleans—may borrow books from Howard Tilton's general collections through longstanding reciprocal borrowing agreements organized through LOUIS, the Louisiana Library Network Consortium, of which Tulane is a member. Visiting users must obtain a LOUIS (or TU/LU) Borrowing Card issued by their home library and, if asked, provide a picture ID onsite to verify they are the cardholder. See this page for more information on using Tulane University Libraries as a visitor from a neighboring college or university.
To ensure the safety of students and staff, late-night access to the library is limited.
- At 7:00 PM each night, access to the library will be limited to active Tulane affiliates. Only a Tulane ID will be accepted for entry after 7:00 PM.
- A security officer will be stationed at the entrance security desk to assist with any problems, answer questions, and monitor security cameras.
Frequently Asked Questions about this policy
- What other security measures are in place at the library?
There are security cameras installed on every floor of the library that operate 24/7 and record everything in their lines of sight. They are networked and can be viewed remotely by the Tulane police. Tulane security officers patrol the building in the evening hours (in addition to the monitor at the entrance). Security is everyone’s concern. If you observe unusual, threatening, or unsettling behavior in the library, please call TUPD at (504) 865-5911 and/or notify library staff on the first floor of the building.
- Does this change affect other Tulane libraries?
No, this policy applies only to Howard-Tilton. Other campus libraries will continue to have their own hours of operation and access policies. See our web site (library.tulane.edu) for further details.
- I am a Tulane student and left my ID in my room. Will you still let me in?
You can still access the library prior to 7:00 PM without any form of ID. After 7:00 PM, if you do not have your Tulane ID, you will need to present a picture ID (such as a driver’s license) to the security guard at the front desk. That guard will then check to verify that you are a current student, and then allow you into the library.
Howard-Tilton Memorial Library rooms 430, 602, and 603 are reserved for TUL instruction and events.
Howard-Tilton Memorial Library is committed to providing a safe, pleasant, and productive environment for all visitors. We recognize that research and study sometimes requires snacks and beverages and we also recognize that food can be distracting to those not enjoying it. We ask all our visitors to be mindful of others around you while enjoying snacks and beverages. Here are some food and beverage guidelines we ask all visitors to adhere to:
- Alcohol is prohibited in the building.
- Covered beverages and snacks are permitted throughout Howard-Tilton Memorial Library with the following exceptions: Rare Books areas and the Latin American Library Seminar Room.
- Food is permitted throughout Howard-Tilton Memorial Library but be mindful of those around you. Take a break away from study areas to eat food that is crunchy, crinkly, or aromatic. You can enjoy this food in the student lounge in the basement our outside under the oaks.
- Meals with your friends should be enjoyed in the student lounge.
- Throw all your trash and recycling in the bins located throughout the building.
- Report any spills immediately to the Check Out Desk or to the front desk in the Administrative Office.
- Wash your hands after eating to avoid transferring food particles to the furniture, computers, and books in the library.
At Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, signs and flyers for campus events and activities not directly affiliated with the library can be posted on the large bulletin board in the hallway near the snack lounge in the library's basement. There are also bulletin boards for this purpose in the graduate study areas on the 2nd floor. All other bulletin boards, including those in the elevator lobbies, are reserved for library-affiliated events. No non-approved signage should be put in the restrooms, elevators, stairwells, or study areas. Any signage not adhering to this policy is subject to removal. Signage for past events is also subject to removal.
Library partners may request temporary signage outside of the library to enhance event visibility. Such external signage may be displayed for no more than 48 hours and only during approved special events. Requests for both indoor and outdoor signage must be submitted in writing to the Office of the Library Dean, and partners will need to work directly with a library affiliate.
Digital Signage: The library has a variety of digital signage displayed throughout the building. On occasion, the library may collaborate with Tulane units outside the library to display content with an academic component that relates to the library in some way. To request to display this kind of content email the library's Marketing and Communication Specialist Rawad Nahhas at rnahhas@tulane.edu with the graphic, the requested date of posting, and the name of your department. Units must submit their proposed content two weeks prior to the event/announcement to leave time to review the graphic, approve the nature of the event, and determine the schedule timeline.
Exhibits, displays, and resource lists in Tulane University Libraries are facilitated by library
workers often in collaboration with community colleagues (including students, student
organizations, faculty curators, local and global experts, and others) to reserve and curate
displays that:
- Uphold the Libraries’ Mission, Vision, and Values and support the University’s Mission and Strategy for Tomorrow
- Enhance educational development for students
- Promote the intellectual and creative growth of the community
- Per the American Library Association, increase the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people
TUL upholds the principles of the American Library Association’s Code of Ethics and the Library
Bill of Rights. The Libraries support the tenets of intellectual freedom and opposes efforts to
censor library materials, programs, and services.
Those interested is curating should reach out to a TUL partner or use our online contact form:
Contact Us. Since capacity is limited, please inquire at least
one month in advance.
Many people come to the library to find a quiet place to read and to study. Please respect others' need for quiet and observe these guidelines for cell phone use in the library. Please turn the ringer off on your phone before entering the building. Use a quiet voice when answering your phone. Please keep your mask on while speaking on the phone. The library reserves the right to ask patrons to leave the building if they are using phones in restricted areas or disturbing others in any area of the library.
Cell phone use is acceptable in:
- 1st Floor Learning Commons
- Elevator lobbies
- Student lounge in the basement
Cell phone use is prohibited in:
- All stack areas
- Reading room areas
- Study and seminar rooms
- Library Instruction Room
- Microforms and Newspapers area
- Music & Media Center
- The Latin American Library
- Service desks
The library should be a place conducive to study, but space limitations and lack of study rooms often sometimes make it difficult to find a quiet spot. The Selley Study Commons on the 3rd floor of the Howard-Tilton Memorial Library has been designated as a quiet study area. Cell phone use is prohibited in this area and patrons should refrain from talking and working in groups.
Students who wish to work in small groups (no bigger than 2) should use the booth seating in the Learning Commons, or the small group study areas on the 2nd, 3rd, or 5th floor.
Patrons whose quiet study is disrupted are strongly encouraged to contact the Check-Out Desk.
Note - while the upper floors are generally considered quieter floors, only the 3rd floor Study Commons is designated for Quiet Study. Please be aware of and sensitive to the study needs of those around you.
Please return any personal items you find in the library to the Check-Out Desk. Valuables will immediately be given to the Tulane Police Department (504) 865-5381. Lost Tulane University photo IDs are sent to Card Services (504) 865-5629.
The library may dispose of all items unclaimed after 30 days.
The Tulane University Libraries follow the principles of borrower confidentiality. The staff in Access Services will not divulge any details of a patron's library record to other patrons or agencies unless required to do so by law. The library follows the Code of Ethics of the American Library Association. This requires all libraries to protect the patron's right to confidentiality and privacy when using library material.
The Howard-Tilton Memorial Library is the main library of Tulane University. It is a place for learning and scholarly reflection, and to this end the library ask its users to to follow a Library Code of Conduct.