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Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) borrows materials from and lends materials to other libraries in the United States and globally. All current students, faculty, and staff may use our ILL services. 

  • Articles
  • Books
  • Book chapters
  • Conference proceedings
  • ... and more

S&T items: We pull it for you.

Items in the UM System or other Missouri based institutions: We will request it for you.

Items outside of the UM System or Missouri based institutions: We will search and find a library and get it for you, if possible. 

  • ILL items will be delivered to you either electronically via email or to your campus office. We can also hold items for you to pickup. 
  • If you opt out of communication, you will not receive notices when your items are available. 
  • Delivery times vary. Estimated turnaround times:
    • Articles & Book chapters: 3-5 days
    • Books 7-14 days. Allow for shipping time.
Click here to Log-in and Request Materials via ILL

Important Information


  1. Interlibrary Loan items are borrowed according to the terms and conditions of the lending library (the library that loans UMSL the item).  There is no standard loan period.
  2. Limit requests to ten or fewer per week so we can process all requests in a timely manner.
  3. Renewals are solely at the discretion of the lending library.
  4. Replacement terms and costs for lost items vary according to the lending library and the item borrowed.
  5. ILL items are seldom recalled, but if they are, please return the item as soon as possible.
  6. Please return items on-time and in good condition. Late and lost items can jeopardize our ability to borrow from other libraries.