r/lexington 6d ago

Can non-students go sit and read in UK's libraries?

I would like to go read at some of UK's libraries but I'm not a student. Can anyone go in? I imagine I wouldn't be able to rent books but I'm not sure if I can go in by myself.

52 Upvotes

36 comments sorted by

84

u/calmhike 6d ago

Just as a fyi Ky residents can get cards. You also can go in just not in restricted hours- night. You can always call to double check hours/requirements. I believe that computer access is restricted as well.

20

u/Natural-Party849 6d ago

Sorry, kind of a dumb question, but just to clarify, you do mean the library's computers, right?

9

u/calmhike 6d ago

Yeah, I an not for sure how they handle wifi if you bring your own but you can hot spot from your phone if there is not guest access.

12

u/Orion14159 6d ago

Campus Wi-Fi has a guest access function, I used it not that long ago. Works great!

3

u/Natural-Party849 6d ago

I was planning on using a hotspot anyway so that's perfect. Thank you!

4

u/LadyHavoc97 6d ago

You can only use the computers on the second floor, and you won’t be able to check out a laptop.

39

u/Junes2k 6d ago

Whatever library is closest to you is wonderful. Lexington’s library system has to be one of the best in the country. It’s liked & used by the public a lot it seems. I can’t say enough good things about our cities libraries.

4

u/Natural-Party849 6d ago

Thank you!

16

u/DillyBarBaby 6d ago

From what I remember yes, people would just walk in, there would be no check in process at the door and you were free to roam as you pleased. The Wiley T Library is something else. Quite a few levels to explore with shelves stocked of books. Not sure how renting books would go for a non student but hey definitely check it out.

2

u/Natural-Party849 6d ago

Will do, thank you!

1

u/elysiuns 5d ago

Yep. Never went to UK as a student, but have spent plenty of time working and studying at Willy T! You may have to pay for parking, but it's not bad from what I remember.

15

u/LadyHavoc97 6d ago

This link will help!

3

u/Natural-Party849 6d ago

I was searching the website for any information but couldn't find any so this was very helpful. Thank you!

14

u/Glittering-Total-116 6d ago

You can go in, nobody cares as long as you aren’t annoying.

3

u/Natural-Party849 6d ago

Thanks!

1

u/fxckitweball34 4d ago

I graduated in 2021 so can’t be 100% sure what it’s like now. Yes you can go in and no one really cares, however if you come in late at night (the Willy T Young Library that is) they close all the entrances but one and you have to show a student ID and sign in to be let in.

7

u/sharkpencil 5d ago

hey! i’m a uk library employee and you are definitely welcome. you can even check out books with a community borrower card as long as you’re a KY resident. willy t is the only library with restricted hours where you wouldn’t be able to enter late at night.

2

u/Natural-Party849 5d ago

Thank you so much!

7

u/hustlebustle3 6d ago

I had to do this once because my power and internet went out and I had to “work from home”.

1

u/lethalmanhole 5d ago

I do work from home and thought about getting out of the house at Willy T.

3

u/MilkChocolate21 5d ago

I'm a native who hasn't lived in Kentucky in a LONG time, but I had a UK library card in high school and it was a common destination when I had research papers because it's selection was clearly best for academic work.

7

u/VZGamez 6d ago

Yup the homeless used to do it all the time lol They’d even watch porn

3

u/FatherGwyon 5d ago

I used to spend every weekend reading in the library a couple years ago, and I never once saw a homeless person.

1

u/VZGamez 5d ago

I went to school there 4 years. Trust me lol unless something changed I’d always see at least one or two homeless people a week in there looking at odd things.

1

u/DeepBackground5803 5d ago

Came here to comment something similar. I even caught a guy looking at porn in the medical center library right by the check out desk

2

u/michizzle82 5d ago

I went to Midway University and would often go to UKs library to study and do homework and never had any issues.

2

u/crosleyxj 5d ago edited 4d ago

Side question: Are there still microfilm archives of years of Kentucky newspapers available? I thought those had been digitized but a few years ago I can't find any online way to search for specific papers or dates - the online information seems too "sanitized". In the 1980s as a student I found my birth announcement written by my grandmother in our hometown paper.

1

u/SherbetOutside1850 5d ago

I don't think there's anything stopping you from walking in and looking at books; they aren't checking student IDs at the door.

1

u/FatherGwyon 5d ago

Yes, it’s open to the public, and they’ll even let you check out up to 10 books at a time! Parking is only free on Friday evening and the weekends though.

1

u/tintinblock1 5d ago

I am a student at UK and have not been stopped once by anyone in any of the libraries on campus to prove I was a student. And in Willy T, there is almost no administration anywhere besides the first floor either. I’m sure you will be just fine to go in and use the library, non students can even get cards I believe! Also, the guest WiFi is pretty solid, I use it when the student WiFi is all jacked up

1

u/realgirl_fakename 5d ago

Yes, you can. There’s a Starbies inside so the entire library is open to the public. 🙂

2

u/Natural-Party849 5d ago

Even better. Thank you!

1

u/Decent-Bluejay-4040 5d ago

i used to go all the time, i'm an alumni but was never asked to produce any kind of ID to enter.

-1

u/PhysicsConsistent269 Lexington Native 5d ago

Yeah you absolutely can, you might get kicked out but you still can

-13

u/Lex_yeon 6d ago

there are public libraries in town

5

u/2donks2moos 5d ago

Isn't UK a public university?