HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Access Service

HathiTrust's Emergency Temporary Access Service (ETAS) makes it possible for current UTSA students, faculty and staff to access digitized versions of some physical books held by UTSA Libraries and other UT system libraries, as long as the physical collections are inaccessible.

• Books currently available through ETAS have the label "Temporary Access." You also have access to books that are marked "Full View."
• "Temporary Access" books can be read only online. You cannot download "Temporary Access" titles. These restrictions are in place based on Terms of Service and our understanding of copyright law.
• A "Temporary Access" book checks out for one hour. It will automatically renew, however, as long as no one else is waiting for it.
• Simultaneous access corresponds to the number of print copies in our library. If there is only 1 print copy on the shelves, then only 1 user at a time can access the digital version. If we have 2 print copies, then only 2 users can access the digital book simultaneously.
• Because of the limit on simultaneous access, we encourage everyone to click on "Return Early" when you are done with the book.
• Unfortunately, the "Temporary Access" service is not available to alumni/alumnae or guests.

For more in-depth information about the service, please see ETAS: Information for Users at the HathiTrust website.

In order to provide access to our collection to as many members of the UTSA community as possible, many of whom are not able to visit in person, UTSA Libraries continues to use the HathiTrust Emergency Temporary Access Service (ETAS) while our stacks are closed. HathiTrust cannot provide digital access to a book under copyright restrictions that is also physically available to loan. To access digitized books in the ETAS database, UTSA Libraries are required to follow the HathiTrust ETAS Terms of Service, including the prohibition against lending any of our print titles that are available via ETAS. 

If a book in our collection is available in the ETAS, you will see a note that says: 'Physical checkout not currently allowed' and a link that says, ACCESS ONLINE from HathiTrust. Click on that link to go to the digital collection. For instructions on logging in and checking out a digital book, see Accessing the Entire Collection.

If you have a print version of a digitized book in the ETAS, you will not be able to renew the item, but it will be available online for you through HathiTrust. We ask that you return the print version.

Print books that are NOT available digitally in the ETAS can be checked out, using our Contactless Get It For Me service.