INTERLIBRARY LOAN

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you have a question about the service ILL provides and do not find an answer to your question below, please contact the ILL office at (202) 357-2158, or via email to libmail@si.edu.

1. WHO MAY USE INTERLIBRARY LOAN? Any permanent Smithsonian Institution employee with a current SIL borrower’s card, or any non-permanent Smithsonian staff, with current SIL borrower’s card, and who will be at the Smithsonian for at least 90 days or more (exceptions may be considered) is eligible to request that materials be borrowed from other libraries through interlibrary loan. Employees must have no less than 30 days remaining before termination in order to request ILL materials.

2. WHAT MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE? Books not owned by SIL or books owned by SIL but declared missing or otherwise inaccessible. Photocopies from periodicals, newspapers, reference books, rare books and other non-circulating material not held by SIL. Thesis and dissertation not held by SIL may also be requested.

3. WHAT MATERIALS MAY NOT BE REQUESTED? Books owned by SIL, unless declared missing or otherwise inaccessible. Reference books, entire issues or volumes of periodicals, rare books, bulky items and other non-circulating materials may not be requested.

4. 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 2 rush requests per day.

5. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BORROW ILL MATERIALS? Library patrons are not charged for borrowing ILL materials if lending organizations charges SIL less than $50.00. However, if charges exceed $50.00, SIL will notify the requestor. Then, a requestor can opt to pay the amount charged over $50.00 or cancel the ILL request.

6. 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.

7. 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 lending libraries.

8. WHAT IF A BORROWED ITEM IS LOST OR DAMAGED? Patrons must notify the ILL Office, (202) 357-2158, 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.

9. HOW DO I RETURN ILL MATERIALS? Return materials to the ILL Office or your SIL branch library, by or before the due date.

10. HOW DO I REQUEST INTERLIBRARY LOAN MATERIALS? Patrons must complete an ILL request form. Each request must contain a complete patron name, interoffice address, email address and telephone number. Requests must also contain a complete citation. ILL requests may be sent to the ILL Office or appropriate SIL branch (STRI, CHM, SAAM, SERC & NZP) by interoffice mail or fax. Forms are available in any SIL branch or select ILL FORMS from this page. Requests via email from the ILL home page, will be processed by the ILL Office.