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Notice: In observance of the Federal holiday on Monday, February 17, the Jefferson Building Great Hall and exhibitions will be open from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. to guests with timed-entry passes.

Research Centers

Interlibrary Loan

Welcome to Interlibrary Loan at the Library of Congress! Interlibrary loan (or ILL) is the process by which a library requests material from, or supplies material to, another library. At the Library of Congress, we loan our materials out to other libraries/institutions so you can use our collections when you can't travel to visit us in person.

Any domestic or international academic, public, or special library may borrow from the Library of Congress. Our lending policies are governed by the National Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States (from ALA) (PDF, 363KB)  and the International Lending and Document Delivery (from IFLA) .

Please note, all items lent from the Library of Congress collections must be used on the borrowing library's premises.

Contact Information

Access Services

Researcher Engagement and General Collections Division
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C. 20540-4660

Ask a Librarian: Loan, Reserves, and Reader Accounts

Accounts: (202) 707-5441 Email: loancirc@loc.gov

ILL Reference: (202) 707-5444
Email: ill@loc.gov
(Please do not use these contacts to submit ILL requests)

Return books via commercial carrier (FedEx, UPS, etc) or USPS Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express to:
Library of Congress
Collections Management Division 4670
101 Independence Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20540-4670

FAQs

Interlibrary Loan

Video Series: Guidelines, FAQs, and General Information about ILL

ILL Guidelines for Loaning Materials

Location

Library of Congress
Thomas Jefferson Building
10 First Street SE
Washington, DC 20540
View map External link

Hours

All research centers are open Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm. Evening and Saturday hours vary by research center. All research centers are closed on Sundays and Federal Holidays.