FAQ : Interlibrary Loan

Requesting books from other libraries (Interlibrary Loan)

If you have a question about using the interlibrary loan services, please contact your nearest branch librarian, or contact the ILL office at 202.633.1245 or email ill@si.edu.

WHO MAY USE INTERLIBRARY LOAN SERVICES?

Any permanent Smithsonian Institution employee with a current SIL borrower’s card, or any temporary employee who will be at the Smithsonian for 90 days or more and who has a current SIL borrower’s card (exceptions may be considered) is eligible to request materials from other libraries through interlibrary loan. Employees must have more than 30 days remaining before termination in order to request ILL materials.

HOW DO I REQUEST INTERLIBRARY LOAN MATERIALS? 

Smithsonian Libraries uses the ILLiad system to request loans. To use ILLiad, you must first create an account. ILLiad services are tied to the employee's permanent duty station.

All SI staff with a library card are eliglible to use ILLiad to request work related research materials not held by SIL.  You can use ILLiad to submit your request, check the status of your request, ask for a renewal of loaned materials, or view your request history. 
If you have problems creating an account, or logging into your account

WHAT MATERIALS CAN I REQUEST?

Any item not in the Smithsonian Libraries' collections. Please check the catalog before you request an item on ILL. In general reference books, entire issues or volumes of periodicals, rare books, bulky items and other non-circulating materials should not be requested, as lending libraries rarely loan these materials. Requests are limited to five items per patron per day.

MAY I REQUEST RUSH ILLs?

Rush delivery of materials may be requested, but is reserved for materials that are of urgent need. Rush requests are processed within 24 hours of receipt. How quickly they arrive depends on the library supplying the materials. There is a limit of two rush requests per patron per day.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BORROW ILL MATERIALS?

Smithsonian library patrons are not charged for borrowing ILL materials if the lending organization charges SIL less than $50.00. However, if charges exceed $50.00, SIL will notify the requestor who can opt to pay the amount charged over $50.00 or cancel the ILL request.

HOW LONG CAN I BORROW ILL MATERIALS?

Most lending organizations loan materials for 30 days. Loan periods, renewals and restriction of use of materials are determined by the lending library.

CAN I RENEW BORROWED ITEMS?

Books must be returned to the ILL office by or before the due date. Requests to renew material must be made at least 4 days before the material is due. Final decisions about whether items can be renewed are made by the lending library, not SIL.

WHAT IF A BORROWED ITEM IS LOST OR DAMAGED?

Patrons must notify the ILL Office, (202) 633-1245, immediately. Patrons are responsible for replacement costs for borrowed items that have been charged to them which have been lost, damaged or not returned. Replacement charges are determined by the lending library and may include processing fees.

HOW DO I RETURN ILL MATERIALS?

Return materials to the ILL Office or your SIL branch library, by or before the due date.