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ENG 100: Freshman English Research Guide

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Books & Articles

Need a book or journal that Pratt doesn't have?

1. Verify that we don't have the item by using PrattCat (the libraries' catalog) to search for books by title or articles by periodical title.

2. Place a request. To make an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) request, you have 3 choices:


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.

For more information:

Please feel free to contact the ILL department, either at the Brooklyn Campus Library at illbklyn@pratt.edu, (718) 230-6841, or the Manhattan Campus Library (Pratt Manhattan Center #410) at illmanha@pratt.edu, (212) 647-7547.

Get Research Help

Librarians at Pratt want to help you with your research :)  Here's how to contact us: 

Using Other Libraries

Another useful option for when Pratt does not have what you need is the possibility of going to other libraries in NYC.  Pratt students are given limited availability to other academic libraries in Brooklyn and in New York City as a whole, through two programs:

  • Academic Libraries of Brooklyn (ALB): In addition to Pratt, ALB includes Brooklyn College, Long Island University, NYC College of Technology, Polytechnic University, St. Francis College, and St. Joseph's College.  The librarians at the reference desk can give you the yellow ALB card; the card and your student ID gain you access to the libraries of the listed colleges. Pratt students have reading and borrowing privileges (up to 2 books at a time per library) at each of the other seven member libraries. Each library's rules apply to Pratt students as ALB users.

  • METRO New York Library Council: This program is more limited in what you can do at other libraries but allows for access to a much greater proportion of NYC libraries.  As long as what you're looking for is not available at the public libraries of NY, Brooklyn, or Queens, the librarians at the reference desk can write you out a METRO card for either the title you're looking for or the subject you need to study to the library that has what you need. METRO referrals do not permit you to borrow materials.

The map below shows other libraries in NYC and your level of access to them.


View Other NYC Libraries in a larger map

Key:
Green schoolhouse: Pratt Institute Libraries locations
Green marker: Full access
Yellow marker: METRO card needed
Pink marker: Access by appointment only
Blue marker: No appointment needed but materials can't be checked out

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