San Diego Public Library - Interlibrary Loan Services

Use Interlibrary Loan (ILL) to request items from other library systems. To have a book delivered from another San Diego Public Library location, place a "Hold" on the item using the Library Catalog.

A non-refundable $5.00 fee will be added to your account for each interlibrary loan request. Additional charges may be required by the lending library and you will be asked on the request form to indicate and agree to a maximum charge. Charges are assessed for the request whether or not the item is picked up.

To make a request, find the item in the WorldCat catalog and select either

Borrow this item from another library system. (Interlibrary Loan), or
ILL

Please note:

You must have a San Diego Public Library card in good standing. A maximum of four requests per week may be submitted.
Expect 1-2 weeks for items to arrive from SDSU and UCSD and 2-4 weeks or more for other requests.
Items borrowed through ILL must be picked up and returned to the same location. Please return the item directly to library staff.
Most items borrowed through ILL cannot be renewed.
Titles published within the past 9 months are not available via ILL.
Most libraries will not lend reference material or particularly valuable or fragile material.
If you need to cancel a request, contact the Interlibrary Loan staff at 619-236-5823 and we will attempt to do so. Fees will still apply if the item has already been sent from the lending library.

To request an article from a magazine, journal, or newspaper you will need a citation to when and where it appeared. Find the periodical title in WorldCat and place a request for the periodical, adding citation information for the specific article in the 'Comments' field. The issue date and/or volume and issue numbers, page numbers, and article title are required. Libraries generally do not lend full periodical issues. Be sure to check the Magazines and Journals List for availability of the article in San Diego Public Library print and online resources.

Microfilm/fiche can be requested from other library systems but cannot be checked-out. It can be used at the Central Library only and is held at the History desk on the first floor.

Additional information is available from the Interlibrary Loan staff at the Central Library, 619-236-5823 or from your local branch library.

Proceed to Worldcat.