Borrowing from Other Libraries

Do you need a book, book chapter, journal article, media, or other research material that is not currently available at the George Mason University Law Library? Are you currently a faculty, staff, or student at the Scalia Law School?

If so, then this page has all the information on requesting materials that you need! Before requesting anything that is not owned by the law library, please review the following.

The law library partners and collaborates with other libraries to obtain materials for our patrons through three programs:

1. IntraCampus Service: Materials available at other George Mason libraries. If an item is available, requests for digital copies are generally filled within 1-2 days; requests for physical copies generally take 2-3 days. Physical materials may be picked up at the law library or another campus library.
2. InterLibrary Lending (ILL) Service: Materials available at other libraries. If an item is available, requests for digital copies are generally filled within 1-2 days; requests for physical materials may take a week or more. and requests for physical materials. Physical materials may be picked up at the law library.
3. Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC): Materials owned by DC-area libraries in the consortium. If an item is available, requests for digital copies are generally filled within 1-2 days; requests for physical copies generally take 2-3 days. Physical materials may be picked up at the Mason Square Library.

What can be requested from other libraries?

• Print resources, including ones that are checked out, overdue, lost, missing or not owned.
• E-Resources, such as journal articles and eBook chapters. Please note that entire eBooks cannot be checked out — only chapters.
• Chapters/sections of print resources and course reserves that abide by copyright law.

What cannot be requested from other libraries?

• Reserve items - requesting casebooks is strongly discouraged as many lenders automatically decline such requests.
• Reference items
• Special collection items
• Full eBooks

How do I request something?

1. Search for the needed item in the Primo catalog. Click on the item you need from the list of results.
2. Click “Sign In” in the yellow bar. Sign in by clicking the pop-up and entering your netID and password.
3. Click the “Request” link below the “Get it” header.
4. Fill out fields in the form that appears. When given the option for delivery after selecting “Request,” select the appropriate library as your “Pickup Location.”
5. Click “Send Request” at the bottom of the form.
6. To check on the status of your request, you can click your name in the upper right of the catalog, while logged in, and scroll to “My Requests.”

What if the title and/or format I need is not in the catalog?

1. No worries! At the top of the catalog search page is a tab for “ILL Request.”
2. Sign in by clicking the pop-up and entering your netID and password.
3. Select the Request Type as “Book” for a physical item or “Article” for a digital download.
4. Fill out the fields in the form and check the Copyright acknowledgement. If you do not have all of the information, include fields with the red asterisk (*) and the ISBN number in order to expedite the request. If given the option for delivery after selecting “Request,” choose the appropriate library as your “Pickup Location.”
5. Click “Send Request” at the bottom of the form.
6. To check on the status of your request, you can click your name in the upper right of the catalog, while logged in, and scroll to “My Requests.”

How can I renew an ILL?

Books from IntraCampus and WRLC can be renewed in your Library Account in the catalog account. If you need to renew an ILL that doesn’t appear in your Library Account, please email lawcirc@gmu.edu.

All renewals are subject to the policies and final decision of the lending institution. We will make every effort to renew your items or find replacement lenders.

If you have any difficulty with the process, please contact the Law Library Circulation Desk at lawcirc@gmu.edu.