Please note that this guide may include pointers to some physical resources in the Boston University Libraries that are not accessible to some or all users due to the person's location or due to access changes put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. For additional help, contact the guide author or get general help at https://askalibrarian.bu.edu
There are several ways you can obtain books or articles that we do not own. These include:
WorldCat Discovery. WorldCat Discovery allows current BU faculty, staff, and students to borrow books directly from other Boston Library Consortium libraries. Turnaround time is approximately three working days. (How to use WorldCat Discovery)
Interlibrary Loan. Interlibrary Loan services allow current BU faculty, staff, and students to request books, articles, book chapters, and other materials that our ILL staff will obtain from other libraries. Books generally take 2-4 weeks to arrive; articles are generally delivered electronically within 1-2 days.
ILL online request forms for all patrons except those affiliated with the Schools of Law and Medicine
Law Library's interlibrary loan page for Law School affiliates
Alumni Medical Library’s ILL form for Medical School affilliates
For general inquires to the Interlibrary Loan office, please call (617) 353-3706 or email ILLMML@bu.edu.