Students, faculty, and staff can now use their digital Cougar Card to gain access to the M.D. Anderson Library. A person’s digital Cougar Card can be found on their UH Go app profile.

Previously, a person had to swipe their physical Cougar Card to gain access.

Esmeralda Valdez, Executive Director of University Services, said using the digital Cougar Card is faster, more efficient, and tracks the data because it’s electronic.

Users who wish to use their digital Cougar Card can access this from the UH Go app and scan it on the digital readers to gain entrance.

To test out the new entrance program, a pilot program was initiated in early June, with 64 individuals using their digital Cougar Card to gain entrance to the library.

“It was very successful,” said Valdez. “They were very happy with the outcome, so they went ahead and implemented it fully. So, it’s been in place since July.”

During the pilot program, University Services received positive feedback from library staff. Valdez added that University of Houston Police Department Captain Damon Hines was also happy with the program and recommended full implementation.

Security-wise, the digital cards have a moving background with a unique QR code, which means that a moving background and a timestamp is generated each time an individual opens the app.

In the two months the program has been implemented, including the pilot period, 411 individuals have used their digital Cougar Card to enter the library.

Valdez anticipates the number to jump exponentially as the fall semester gets underway. Learn more about the Cougar Card and its role as the key to accessing many on-campus services via the department website.