Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a service that allows valid Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) cardholders to request print books that are not in our collection from other libraries in the United States. We do not request:
- Print books already owned by BPL (including Reference materials);
- Textbooks;
- Multimedia materials (including DVDs, CDs, and audiobooks);
- Computer software (such as Rosetta Stone); or
- Print articles from magazines or journals and/or an entire issue of a magazine or journal;
Placing Requests
At this time you may have up to 6 active requests at a time. An active request is considered a book you have requested, have checked out, or is in transit to our office. We cannot always find a library willing to lend us their materials. The requested books may also be non-circulating, lost, checked out, or deemed to be too new for loan.
You can place an ILL request in person at any open BPL branch. See a list of open BPL branches, as well as hours and directions, on our locations map.
Whichever notification method (Email, Text Message, or Phone) you have on your BPL library account is how you will be notified that your ILL materials have arrived and are on the Holds Shelf. Please note that ILL books will remain on the Holds Shelf for 7 days before they are returned. Please pick up your interlibrary loan requests as soon as possible after notification.
To check the status of your ILL request, or to renew your items, contact the ILL department at 718-230-2187.
Returning ILL Items
ILL materials should be returned to the reference of the library from which you picked it up. Please do not return books to the drop box.
We do not charge daily late fines, so there are no charges for any item you return late. Items not returned more than 14 days after their due date are considered lost. A replacement charge for the cost of lost items will be added to the patron’s account. Please note that the cost is set by the lending library. You cannot place holds, renew, or check out any physical library material until you have returned your lost items or have paid for their replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
ILL books circulate for 4 weeks from the date of checkout. Due dates can be found on your Brooklyn Public Library account.
Renewal decisions and due dates are made by the lending library. You may call our office at 718-230-2187 to request a renewal. We will contact the lending library and will contact you when we hear back from them. It sometimes takes 2-5 days to hear back from the lending library so please request renewals 5 days before the due date. If the library denies the renewal you will have 3 days to return the book.
We do not charge daily late fines, so there are no charges for any item you return late. Items not returned more than 14 days after their due date are considered lost. A replacement charge for the cost of lost items will be added to the patron’s account.
Please do not purchase a replacement copy as many libraries do not accept replacements for their materials.
Please return any ILL items you still have and we will remove the replacement cost from your account. If you are unable to return the items or pay for replacement, please contact us to discuss your options. Effective December 1, 2021, library accounts of patrons ages 18 and older with an unpaid balance of $25 or more for longer than 60 days will be submitted to BPL’s vendor, Unique Management Services, who will follow up with you. Your balance will not be reported to credit bureaus or affect your credit score. Unique Management Services will contact you on our behalf until arrangements are made for repayment or return of overdue materials.