Finding Items at Other Libraries

While the University of Chicago Library has a very large collection, it may not have everything that you may need for your research. To help you obtain what you need, the Library has many resources and services to help you locate and borrow materials from other institutions.

Identifying Items Using Library Catalogs

The Library provices access to many different databases to help you identify books, journals, DVDs, recordings, or other materials held at libraries other than the University of Chicago.

WorldCat

The WorldCat database lists the holdings of over 50,000 public, academic, and special libraries throughout the United States and abroad, WorldCat is a good database to use to identify resources, since it contains records for books, journals, recordings, maps, etc.When you locate an item, click on "Libraries Worldwide That Own Item" to see a list of libraries which hold a copy of the item (libraries in Illinois will be listed first).

RLG Union Catalog

The RLG Union Catalog (RLIN) focuses on the collections of research and academic libraries, as well as archives, museums, and national libraries.

Other Library Catalogs

You can also search specific library catalogs directly by going to the Catalogs page on the Library's Web site. The Library links to catalogs from a variety of libraries around Chicago or the U.S. Some of these libraries (Northwestern, Center for Research Libraries, University of Illinois at Chicago) have some special borrowing agreements with the University of Chicago. You can search these catalogs individually, or use the CrossSearch feature on the Library's Web site.

CrossSearch Option for Searching Other Catalogs Directly from the Library's Web Site

Borrowing Materials from Other Libraries: Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

Should you locate an item not owned by the Library, you can request what you need from other libraries in the United States and Canada through the Library's Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service. You can request a variety of materials through Interlibrary Loan, including books, chapters of books, journal articles, newspapers, theses or dissertations, videorecordings, etc. Interlibrary loan services are offered without charge to all University faculty, students and staff (University of Chicago alumni with borrowing privileges can use ILL for a fee).

When you make an interlibrary loan request, the Library will look for the item you need at other libraries. The Library will then arrange for the item to be sent here for your use. There are two ways you can make interlibrary loan requests.

1. Logging Directly Into Your Interlibrary Loan Account

   You can log into your Interlibrary Loan Account from the My Accounts tab on the Library's web site and also the Interlibrary Laon tab on the Library Catalog. If you are a current student, staff, or faculty member, you will need to log in using your CNET ID. Hospital employees and other ILL users must create a log-in and password.

   The first time you log in, you will be asked to fill out a brief form about yourself (mainly contact information). Then you will see several options for ILL requests, including a form for books, journal articles, newspapers, thesis or dissertation, etc. There is also a free-text option available. Fill out the appropriate form, including information about where you located your citation, and the Library will place the request. Be sure to log out of your ILL account and close your browser after you have completed your request.

2. 

   You can also place interlibrary loan requests directly from some Library databases, such as WorldCat or the RLG Union Catalog, by using the Find It! service. Just click on the Find It! icon in the database record for the item you are interested in. Select the appropriate ILL option and log into your account. Find It! will transfer all of the information about the item from that database into the appropriate form in your Interlibrary Loan account.

Items requested through Interlibrary Loan are usually available in about 7-10 working days. Requests made during interim may take slightly longer. You can check on the status of your request by logging into your ILL account.

Books or other physical materials will be held for you to pick up at the Library. Articles or book chapters may be delivered to you by e-mail. Remember to return the items on the appropriate due date. Overdue interlibrary loan material will accrue fines at the rate of $3/day per volume. The replacement fee for lost interlibrary loan items is $125/volume.

Visiting Other Libraries

If an item is not available from the Library and if you cannot wait for interlibrary loan, another option is to visit a library in the that owns the item.

There are several libraries (Northwestern, Chicago Theological Seminary, and the University of Illinois at Chicago) which have cooperative borrowing agreements with the University of Chicago Library. Other libraries will usually not allow you to check out items directly, but you may be able to access the Library to use the item. The Library has agreements with libraries that are a part of the Research Libraries Group (RLG) or CIC Institutions (Big 10 schools) which will allow University of Chicago community members building access. Other libraries will require an InfoPass for access, which can be obtained at a Reference Desk at one of our campus libraries. If you need assistance in making these arrangements, please Ask a Librarian.

In all cases, we strongly recommend contacting the library you wish to visit for information about access policies and procedures.

Getting Help

If you are having difficulty locating an item, please do not hesitate to Ask a Librarian for assistance. We are more than happy to help you locate what you need.