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Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

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For NYPL cardholders

Requesting Materials from Other Libraries:

Interlibrary Loan provides access to library materials that are not available in the New York metropolitan area through agreements with libraries throughout the country.

If you have a current library card, you may submit and manage your Interlibrary Loan requests online. To set up an account and submit requests, use the ILLiad Online Request Form. Use this printable Quick Start Guide for help getting started!

For Other Libraries

Requesting Materials from The New
York Public Library:

Interlibrary loan requests can be
submitted through OCLC. For libraries
without access to OCLC, ILL requests
can be submitted by

  • email (ill@nypl.org)
  • fax (212-391-2502)
  • mail
    New York Public Library, ILL
    476 Fifth Avenue, South Court
    Mezzanine
    New York, NY 10018

Frequently Asked Questions About ILL

Who may use Interlibrary Loan?

The Interlibrary Loan service is available to all New York Public Library cardholders, unless you owe the Library more than $15 in fines.

What can I request through Interlibrary Loan?

  • Books, recordings, microfilm which are not owned by NYPL
  • Books which are only available at NYPL as non-circulating research copies
  • Photocopies of articles

What cannot be requested through Interlibrary Loan?

  • Items published during the current year
  • Reference books
  • Materials held in special collections, such as rare books or manuscripts
  • Entire issues of periodicals

Is there a charge for Interlibrary Loan?

Interlibrary Loan is a free service for NYPL cardholders.

How long does it take?

A requested item should arrive in two to three weeks, depending upon how widely available it is and the location of the library sending it. If you need the item more quickly, you may request a METRO pass which will allow you a one-time entrance into a New York area library which holds the item.

Where will the items I request be delivered?

You may choose any Library location to pick up your Interlibrary Loan materials. However, non-circulating materials can only be used in one of the research libraries. Article copies can be delivered to your email address or picked up at the location you choose.

How many items may I request?

You may have up to three active Interlibrary Loan requests at a time. A request is considered active from the time it is received by the Interlibrary Loan staff until a borrowed item is received back in the Interlibrary Loan office.

How long can I use Interlibrary Loan materials?

The loan period for Interlibrary Loan materials is two weeks, with no renewals.

Can I renew my Interlibrary Loan materials?

There are no renewals for Interlibrary Loan materials.

How do I place a request?

You may place your request online through ILLiad, our online ordering system, accessible from the Library's homepage.

If I am not a New York Public Library cardholder, how can I use Interlibrary Loan?

You may request materials held in the Library's collection through the interlibrary loan department at your local library. Be aware that most items in the research collections cannot be loaned through Interlibrary Loan. For a fee, you may order copies directly from the Library's Document Delivery service, Premium Services.

Can I speak to someone for further assistance?

For assistance from library staff, you may bring all citation details with you to an information desk at any library location. For further information about interlibrary loan policies, please contact the interlibrary loan staff at 212-930-0878.

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