Library materials may be borrowed through interlibrary loan (ILL) for persons not affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution.
Listed below are some commonly asked questions about borrowing material on ILL from Smithsonian Institution Libraries.
To see if the materials you want are in our collections, please consult our online catalog on the WWW at: www.siris.si.edu or via telnet at: telnet://siris.si.edu.
If you need further information, please send your question to libmail@sil.si.edu.
Q. I am a member of the Smithsonian or a member of the Resident Associates. Can I borrow material from Smithsonian Institution Libraries?
A. No. Only staff members or affiliated staff members may borrow directly. You can request Smithsonian Institution Libraries' material on interlibrary loan.
Q. How do I borrow material from Smithsonian Institution Libraries on interlibrary loan?
A. Only other libraries can initiate an interlibrary loan request. To borrow Smithsonian Institution Libraries' material, contact your own local public, university or college, or special library and ask about interlibrary loan. Your library may choose to obtain the material you want from a library other than Smithsonian Institution Libraries.
Q. Is there a charge for this service?
A. Smithsonian Institution Libraries does not currently charge for interlibrary loans. Your own library may charge a small fee to cover processing costs.
Q. What type of materials can I borrow?
A. Most materials in our collection can be sent out on interlibrary loan. Items in rare or special collections generally do not circulate, but in some instances portions may be photocopied depending upon the condition of the material. Magazine and journal articles will be photocopied. Your use of photocopied material must adhere to current copyright restrictions.
Q. How should my library request materials from Smithsonian Institution Libraries?
A. Smithsonian Institution Libraries accepts requests through the OCLC Interlibrary Loan System, American Library Association (ALA) ILL Forms, and International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) ILL Forms. ALA and IFLA forms may be faxed to our interlibrary loan office at: 202-786-2443.
Q. How long will it take to get the material I request?
A. Smithsonian Institution Libraries processes requests as quickly as possible once they are received. The turn around time varies greatly and depends upon the material and the location of the requesting library. Requests can take from a few days to several weeks.
We are unable to answer telephone calls or emails about the status of requests from individuals. Please contact your own library to check on the status of your request.
Q. Can I or my library email you with a request for an ILL?
A. No, Smithsonian Institution Libraries is not currently able to process email requests for ILL materials.