BorrowDirect, E-ZBorrow and Interlibrary Loan: Getting Started

See the Libraries' COVID-19 page for the latest updates on library services.

Borrowing of physical materials from other institutions is limited at this time.  BorrowDirect and E-ZBorrow programs have resumed service with a limited number of partners. Requests for electronic articles and book chapters can be submitted through regular Interlibrary Loan.  To expedite delivery, please submit no more than one book chapter per request.  Requests for copies of entire books should be submitted via purchase request: https://faq.library.upenn.edu/friendly.php?slug=purchaserequests

The Penn Libraries can help you obtain materials for your research in a variety of ways:

Need a book from the stacks?

• Search your title in the Franklin online catalog.  In the upper right corner, log in with your PennKey and click Show Availability Details to see your request options.  Choose Request to have the book delivered to the circulation desk of the Penn Library of your choice

 Need a book that's not available or that Penn doesn't own?

• Use BorrowDirect or E-ZBorrow to instantly send a request for an item to a participating institution
• When it becomes available, use Interlibrary Loan for items unavailable in BorrowDirect or E-ZBorrow

 Need a scan of an article or a book chapter?

• Check the Franklin catalog first - Penn provides access to thousands of full text articles and e-books
• Use the Digital Delivery request option in Franklin to get electronic delivery of an article or chapter from Penn materials
• Use Interlibrary Loan to request electronic delivery of scans from materials not owned by Penn

Need a DVD or a music CD?

• Check the Franklin catalog first - Penn owns thousands of DVD's and CD's
• When it becomes available, use Interlibrary Loan for items currently unavailable in the Penn collections

Need something only available on microfilm or another microtext format?

• Check the Franklin catalog first - Penn has a large collection of material in microtext format
• If we own it, you can view and make copies of the material in the Van Pelt Microtext area next to Circulation or request a scanned copy of something under 50 pages through Scan and Deliver
• When it becomes available, use Interlibrary Loan to request a loan or a scan for items currently unavailable in the Penn collections

Contact us at the (virtual) Van Pelt Library Interlibrary Loan office:

Email Us:
interlib@pobox.upenn.edu