Interlibrary loan
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) provides access to physical materials or scans of articles and chapters from libraries around the world. It is a valuable resource for acquiring titles not currently in our collection, currently checked out, or otherwise unavailable.
Stanford also participates in BorrowDirect, an expedited request service. This partnership encompasses collections from universities such as Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Chicago, Johns Hopkins, Duke, Princeton, and Yale as well as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Dartmouth College, comprising over ninety million volumes.
Who is eligible?
Stanford University students, faculty, staff, fellows, and visiting scholars.
Requesting materials
Begin by searching for the items you need in SearchWorks, the library catalog. The availability of specific request services may vary depending on material type, item status, lending branch or center, and patron affiliation. If request services are available for a specific item, a blue Request button will be displayed. If the item is currently checked out or unavailable in the Stanford collection, you can choose to expedite a copy from a partner library. The request will then be processed through BorrowDirect or interlibrary loan.
Need materials not in the Stanford collection?
If an item is not available in our collection, you can request it by filling out the interlibrary loan form.
Place an ILL request (SUNet ID required)
We are integrating your ILL requests into ‘My Account’ to make them easier find.
Items that you checked out before the start of the fall 2026 quarter will be displayed in your ILL account.
What to expect
When you request an item through SearchWorks or the interlibrary loan form, library staff review your request to determine the quickest option to borrow a copy, so your item may be obtained through either BorrowDirect or interlibrary loan.
We will email you when your item(s) are ready for pickup.
| Option | BorrowDirect | Interlibrary loan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processing time | Usually 1 week | Usually 2 weeks, but it may take longer | |
| Loan period | Up to 16 weeks | Varies, determined by lending library | |
| Renewals | No renewals | Check the gray paper band wrapped around the book’s cover for eligibility. If the band says “No renewals,” you need to return the book and submit a new ILL request. Otherwise, email the interlibrary loan office at stfborrowing@stanford.edu to request a renewal. | |
| Returns | Any campus circulation desk or book return bin. | ||
| Overdue fines | Overdue fines are not charged; however, lost item fees of $100 are billed 7 days after the item’s due date. Occasionally, lending libraries may accept replacement copies. In those cases, processing fees may still apply. | ||
Affiliated with a Stanford professional school?
Stanford professional-school researchers should request interlibrary loan services offered by their school.
- Stanford Business Library services
- Law Library interlibrary loan
- Lane Medical Library DocXpress
- SLAC—No interlibrary services
Interlibrary loans for non-Stanford affiliates
Visit the interlibrary loan for non-Stanford affiliates page for details about policies and charges.
Questions about interlibrary loan?
For any questions or concerns, please email stfborrowing@stanford.edu or call (650) 725-1278.