Hekman Library is open to the public and welcomes guests from outside the Calvin community, including members of the public, former students and faculty, students of other schools, area clergy, and more. Some electronic resources may only be available off-campus to current Calvin students, faculty, and staff, but when you visit the library in person, you have full access to our resources through our public computers. You can also purchase a guest library card to check out materials and use our guest printer cards to print or make copies here.
Keep in mind, there are a few differences for guest/alumni users when it comes to accessing library materials at Hekman.
Guests who wish to check out materials from Hekman Library may purchase a Guest User card for $20, good for six months. Cards are available at the main check-out desk.
Users who are exempt from the guest card fee include Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary faculty, emeriti, staff, Calvin and high school students, CALL members, and alumni.
Alumni may receive a guest card/account or reactivate an old card/account with no fee by following the steps below:
Your request will be processed and the necessary credentials will be communicated. If you are near Grand Rapids, you may pick up a physical library card at the main check-out desk.
Please note that if your card is lost, you will need to get a new card/account.
Although most Calvin databases and ebooks are restricted off-campus, Calvin alumni can access the following:
Off-campus, you will be prompted to enter your library e-mail address and password to view these databases.
The password would've been set by you since May 2024 and can be reset whenever you need it. See more details at Login Instructions for Guests, Alumni, and Calvin Seminary.
Alumni may request up to five (5) ILL items per year. If you are enrolled at another institution, we ask that you use that institution's ILL service.
Guests should use their local public libraries or the services offered by the educational institutions where they are enrolled. The purchase of a guest user card at Hekman does not include Interlibrary Loan service.
Area high school students are welcome to visit and use the library resources on their own or as part of a class visit (please review the section on this page for obtaining a Guest User card to check out Hekman materials).
Teachers interested in arranging a class group visit should contact Research Assistance staff.
This service (also known as CRC Minister's Loan) is extended to ministers and retired pastors in the Christian Reformed Church (based on the current CRC Yearbook) who wish to check out books from Hekman Library. Policies and privileges are the same as for other guests or alumni; see above for more information.