Interlibrary Loan
What is it?
If Pratt doesn't have the book or article you need, we can probably still get it for you through Interlibrary Loan (ILL). When Pratt doesn't have an item, we'll request it from another library and have it sent to the campus library of your choice.
How does it work?
1. Verify that we don't have the item by using PrattCat to search for books by title or articles by periodical title.
2. Place a request using our online ILL form.
3. You'll receive an email when the item has been received. For most articles, you'll receive a link to the PDF of the file. For physical books, they'll be held at the reference desk for you.
4. Return the item by the date specified. The lending periods may differ from your standard loan period and the length of the loan is determined by the library that sent us the item.
Is there a cost?
No. This service is free for faculty, staff, and students. Other patron types are not eligible for this service.
How long can I keep the item? Can I renew it?
The length of the loan is determined by the library that owns the item. It's often 30 days. We will contact the lending library and attempt to renew it for only 1 additional loan period. Whether renewals are granted is entirely up to the lending library.
Are late fees the same as other items I borrow from Pratt?
No. Late fees are $5.00 per day for all patrons. There is nothing we can do to change fines assessed for interlibrary loan items since we do not own the items.
Finding Material Outside Pratt
What if the Pratt Libraries don't have what you need?
Thankfully, you still have options!
If you have time to wait, you can request the material through ILL (Inter-Library Loan), which can take 1-2 weeks, usually less for articles.
Or you can suggest that the library purchase the item you need. If the library buys the item, it generally takes a month to become available.
If you're in a hurry, you can find the item at another NYC area library.
Use Worldcat, a catalogue that combines the catalogues of hundreds of libraries to see where else in New York the material might be located.
Pratt Libraries is part of ALB Consortium (Academic Libraries of Booklyn), so you can get an ALB card and check out 2 books from participating institutions.
A Librarian can write you a METRO PASS to visit a library you don't have access to. You won't be able to check out the item, but you can copy or scan what you need.
ALB Cards and METRO Pass information are available at the Reference Desk on the first floor of the Brooklyn Library.
NYC Area Libraries
View Other NYC Libraries in a larger map
Using WorldCat
WorldCat is the world's library catalog. It allows you to search thousands of libraries all at once to see where an item is held.
When browsing titles, you'll be able to see whether we hold a title or not by looking to see if Pratt shows up under Libraries that own this item.
When you click on a title in the Pratt version of Worldcat, you'll be able to see if we have copies available as well as which nearby libraries have the item.
If we do not have the title, use the Request Item through Interlibrary Loan button in pratt.worldcat.org to place an interlibrary loan request for that item.
Visit Local Art Research Libraries
Local Art Libraries
For research related to art history, the following local libraries are invaluable resources. See individual library websites for full information on their access policies.
Schwarzman (Humanities) Research Library
Art & Architecture Collection (Room 300)
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street
New York, NY 10018-2788
(917) 275-6975
All NYPL libraries, including the research libraries, are open to the public. No appointment is necessary. For further access information, see the Art & Architecture Collection's FAQs page.
The Frick Art Reference Library
10 East 71st Street
New York, NY 10021
Phone: 212-547-0641
Frick Online Catalog, FRESCO
The Frick Library is open to adults (18 or older). No appointment is necessary to use the Library. For further access information, see their FAQs page.
The Watson Library at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue (at 82nd Street)
New York, NY 10028
Watson' Online Catalog, Watsonline
Reading privileges in Watson Library are extended to Museum staff and visiting researchers wishing to do art historical or related research who are college-level and older. For further access information, see their access information page.