Borrow, Renew, ReturnInterlibrary Loan and Document Delivery

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

At a Glance

Have questions about your research?
We can help!

General Information

The interlibrary loan (ILL) service enables UC students, faculty, and staff to obtain material not available in UCLA libraries. UCLA will automatically search for availability in other libraries, both in this country and abroad. Articles and book chapters will be scanned and e-mailed directly to you.

Eligibility

The service is free to eligible borrowers:

  • UC faculty members, including emeriti
  • UC academic library cardholders
  • UC students
  • UC staff library cardholders

UCLA Extension students and faculty, alumni, holders of courtesy, access, and fee cards, and members of the general public are not eligible. These users should request interlibrary loans through their local public libraries.

To request an item directly from a database or UC Library Search

  • Article Indexes and Databases: Search an individual index or database. Click the Get it at UC button button and then choose "Request through Interlibrary Loan" under "How to get it."
  • UC Library Search: Search the catalog, and then choose "Request through Interlibrary Loan" under "How to get it." 
    • Be sure to log in to your library account, by clicking "My Library Account" in the top right corner. Clicking on "UCLA Users" will allow you to log in via Shibboleth, with your MyUCLA login. 

Blank ILL request forms for titles not found in UC Library Search (requests using these forms will be delayed)

  • In UC Library Search, select the Ellipses icon ("More") in the navigation bar at the top, and then "ILL Request - Blank ILL Request."

Users can check the status or cancel a request by logging in to UC Library Search via My Library Account. 

  • Note: For ILL requests placed BEFORE July 27, 2021, users should check My ILL Requests. Please enter the 10-digit library card number you had when you placed the hold and select "xCDL" as your home campus.

Items That Can Be Requested

  • Items not owned by UCLA libraries.
  • Items that are checked out of UCLA libraries, excluding materials on reserve for a course.
  • Items missing from UCLA libraries. Before requesting an interlibrary loan for a missing item, check UC Library Search to see if another UCLA library has a copy; a formal search for the item can be requested at the owning library's circulation desk or online.

Items That Cannot Be Requested

  • Reference materials
  • Course reserves
  • Non-circulating items (i.e. Special Collections)

Items That May Be Difficult to Obtain

  • Entire journal volumes or issues
  • Titles only owned at foreign institutions
  • E-Pub/Articles ahead of print