Interlibrary Loan FAQs

Answers to the most commonly asked questions about Georgetown Law ILL.

Where Can ILL Books Be Returned?

Borrowed ILL materials may be returned to:

  • The Law Library Circulation Desk when it is open.
  • The Law Library Book Drop located in the library when the Circulation Desk is closed (as long as the material is not fragile).
  • The Law Library Book Drop located on the fifth floor of Law Center McDonough Hall (as long as the material is not fragile).
  • The Law Library return bins behind the reception desk in the Office of Journal Administration (Law Center Williams Bldg 170) if borrowed by a law journal office.
  • The Law Library outdoor book drop, located outside of the campus iron gates, by the Law Library building on the corner of New Jersey Avenue and G Street, when the Circulation Desk is closed (as long as the material is not fragile).

Georgetown Law faculty should not return  ILL materials through Capitol Campus Mail Service as it could take almost a week for items to reach the Law Library. A book is not marked as returned until it reaches this ILL service. The law faculty will be responsible for any losses or damages that occur while an ILL book is in campus mail.

We do not recommend returning any ILL books, requested through your Law Library ILLiad account, to other libraries, including other Georgetown University libraries.These other libraries would not have the ability to access our ILLiad system to update your record. They are not responsible for returning the book to its rightful owner. They may or may send the ILL book to this Law Library. An ILL book is not marked as returned until it reaches this Law Library ILL service. You will remain liable for the ILL book until this Law Library ILL service receives it to check in properly.

Do not remove the paper strap wrapped around the ILL book's cover. That strap contains all the necessary information that assists this ILL service to properly check your returned ILL book. Without that ILL book cover strap, there is nothing to visually distinguish your returned ILL book from the hundreds of library books handled by the Law Library. If you remove the ILL book strap, you remain liable for issues that may arise from any check-in delay or book misplacement by library staff.