Interlibrary Loan FAQs

N.B.: Libraries may still have limited or restricted services. Please research the most current access policy and restrictions of any library prior to visiting.

The Law Library's ILL service can try to accommodate more urgent requests, however, this ILL office is not staffed 24/7. Neither are ILL offices at other libraries. Though local academic loans supported by the nearby Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC) member libraries may operate throughout the week, it cannot accommodate rush service.

Here are tips for the occasions where you need something urgently, especially after business hours and over the weekends.

Visit a WRLC Local Academic (Non-Law) Library

1. Check the catalog under "Georgetown U. + Local Academic Libraries" in the catalog.
2. Find a library that has a copy of the book or print journal volume that has a status of "Available"
3. Visit the library.
4. Book: Retrieve the book from the shelf and check it out with your Georgetown University ID.
   • If you want the book held by the owning library, you must call that library's circulation desk and ask if that is possible. You cannot place holds for specific libraries through the catalog.
5. Article in print journal / Chapter in book: Retrieve the print journal volume or book and make copies on-site.
   • You will not be allowed to check out print journals.
   • Ask that library's circulation desk about public photocopying and scanning options.

Local law libraries are not full members of WRLC and may not allow you to enter even with a Georgetown University ID. You do not have borrowing privileges at local law libraries. Please contact that law library's access services department, or consult this Law Library's Reference Services, before visiting.

Visit the Library of Congress (LOC)

1. Check the Library of Congress catalog to verify that it owns the title and, in the catalog record, identify which of its Reading Room will allow you to use the material on-site.
2. Check the LOC Reading Rooms schedule.
3. If you do not have a LOC Reader's Card, you must register for one.
4. Read LOC's Requesting Materials in the LC Online Catalog guide.
5. You cannot remove the material from the Reading Room. No one from Georgetown Law Center has direct borrowing privileges at LOC. But you may make scans as necessary.

For electronic materials, like articles, off a database not subscribed to by the Law Library, check a local academic (non-law) library's A-Z list of databases usually provided on a library's website. If the local academic (non-law) library is a WRLC member and has the database you need (and it covers the dates or volumes of your citation), then using your Georgetown University ID visit that non-law library. It would be best if you contact the reference desk at that library to make sure you can access the database on a public computer station and that the database is not restricted to their school or individually assigned credentials. Like this Law Library, local academic libraries may have databases, such as Westlaw & Lexis, that cannot be freely accessed on-site by those who are not directly affiliated with the school. Local academic law libraries are not full members of WRLC and may not allow you to enter even with a Georgetown University ID.

This Law Library does not know the sign-on credentials belonging to other libraries. Other libraries do not hand out sign-on credentials to their licensed electronic subscriptions.