Request Books, Microfilm, Articles, and Materials Not Owned by the Library
To use Interlibrary Loan (ILL), you must be an Arlington County, Virginia, resident with a current library card in good standing.
- Submit an online Interlibrary Loan Request Form for each title. Please include any information about the title from citations, websites, etc.
- Arlington Public Library charges patrons $5 per requested Item for Interlibrary Loan.
- Requests usually take 3-6 weeks to fill.
- Pick up and return all ILL items at Central Library's 1st Floor Service Desk
ILL Restrictions
Requests may be made for any items not owned by Arlington Public Library, with the following exceptions:
- No Music CDs, eAudiobooks or Video Games.
- Unless requesting a different format than the library owns, ILL is not to be used to request items that are already in the library’s collection.
- No recently published items: ILL is not for items that have been published within the last six months. Even items that have a publication date of less than a year may not be found as libraries do not lend items that are found in their "new collection." Instead of requesting an ILL for a new item, submit a suggestion for the collection.
International Requests - The Library will only request photocopies from outside the US and Canada due to the complexity and cost in international shipping.
How ILL Works
- Wait Time: Requests usually take 3-6 weeks to fill.
- Fee: Arlington Public Library charges patrons $5 per requested item for Interlibrary Loan. Fees are applied to patron account upon item arrival at Central Library. Fees can be paid online or in person at the Central Library 1st Floor Service Desk.
- Pick Up: ILL staff will contact you when your items are ready. Pick up your items at the Central Library, 1st Floor Service Desk. At checkout, ILL items will be added to your Library Account.
- Return: ILL materials must be returned to the Central Library, 1st Floor Service Desk, not in a book drop. Patrons are responsible for keeping track of all ILL items and due dates. To request an exception on your due date, call or email ILL staff.
Please let ILL staff know if you no longer need a requested item.
Please note:
- Some libraries will provide electronic copies instead of photocopies, when allowed by their lending policies, but we cannot guarantee ILL copies in electronic format.
- Lending libraries generally restrict loans of textbooks, genealogy material and reference books
- Returning ILL items in library book drops instead of at the Central Library 1st Floor Service Desk may result in loss of ILL usage.
ILL Fees
- Arlington Public Library charges patrons $5 per Interlibrary Loan requested Item.
- There is no charge for items that are delivered by email, such as an article or chapter request.
- There is no charge for items requested by Arlington County staff for work purposes.
- There may be a fee charged by lending libraries, or in the case of journal articles from the last 5 years (due to copyright compliance).
- In the event an additional fee is required, staff will consult with the patrons before confirming the item loan.