What is interlibrary loan and how does it work?
Answer
The Medical Library has cooperative sharing agreements with thousands of libraries around the country. Interlibrary loan, or ILL, is a process by which libraries lend materials to each other. When you need a book, book chapter or journal article, you request an ILL, and our Interlibrary loan staff make arrangements to have the materials sent here from any one of thousands of libraries. We first attempt to find a library in the Boston area with which we share materials regularly. If the item isn’t owned locally, we’ll then attempt to find it within New England, Northeastern U.S., and so on.
ILL requests should be submitted using the Order Articles and Books form.
Electronic materials (articles and book chapters) will be emailed to you. Print book ILLs may be picked up at the Library Circulation Desk, Monday-Friday 8:00am-6:00pm. After 6:00pm and on weekends, please check with the Circulation Desk to make sure a full-time staff member will be available to assist you with your ILL pick up.