Requesting materials from the KU Libraries

Go directly to WebRetrieve to submit an interlibrary loan or local article delivery request if you are familiar with our services.

Patrons with disabilities who need assistance beyond the services listed below may find information on the KU Libraries Services for People with Disabilities web page.

KU faculty, graduate students, undergraduate students, staff, and authorized affiliates with a valid KU card and in good standing are eligible to use the following services. This includes emeritus faculty and retired faculty and staff. The following services are to be used in support of your classroom and research needs.

Request Services Related Notes

We have changed our login method of WebRetrieve from the last 8 digits of the KUID card to your KU Online ID. Proxies will continue to use their proxy borrower number. Brand new users to WebRetrieve will need to enter their KU Online ID and last name to first login into the system.
If you have questions about this please contact Lars Leon, lleon@ku.edu or (785) 864 - 3073.

Click here to read about TripSaver.

KU patrons can now submit WebRetrieve requests for KU items that are checked out instead of recalling them. Click here for more information

What would you like?

A journal article from an item held by the KU Libraries

Check here for immediate access to full text electronic journals available through KU Libraries
Get an electronic copy of a print journal article of an item held by KU Libraries via WebRetrieve if not available as full text electronic journal. Click here for more information.

A journal article of an item not held by the KU Libraries

Get an electronic copy (usually) of a journal article of an item not held by KU Libraries via WebRetrieve. Click here for more information.
Law faculty, staff, and students request via the KU Law Library request form
Patrons who know that the KU Medical Center Library owns a specific journal that the KU Libraries do not own can go to WebRetrieve and use the Article Available in KU Med Center Library request form

Have someone get the item for me that is owned by the KU Libraries

Use Retrieve from Shelf Service by clicking the "Recalls & Requests" button on the KU Library Catalog

Borrow an item kept in the KU Libraries Annex

Use Retrieve from Shelf Service by clicking the "Recalls & Requests" button on the KU Library Catalog

Request an item that I did not find on a KU Libraries shelf

Use Retrieve from Shelf Service by clicking the "Recalls & Requests" button on the KU Library Catalog
KU Library Borrower Card patrons may enter their search requests at any library service desk.

Request a KU Libraries item that is currently checked out or overdue

Recall the item by clicking the "Recalls & Requests" button on the KU Library Catalog OR
Request a loan of the item via WebRetrieve. Click here for more information.

Request a KU Libraries item that has been declared lost, missing or damaged

Request a loan of an item via WebRetrieve. Click here for more information.
Law faculty, staff, and students submit these types of requests to the Wheat Law Library

Request to borrow an item that the KU Libraries do not own

Request a loan of an item not held by KU Libraries via WebRetrieve. Click here for more information.

Law faculty, staff, and students submit these types of requests to the Wheat Law Library

Have someone get the item for me and deliver to my Lawrence campus department

Only KU Lawrence campus faculty and staff may use our TripSaver Service where we will deliver eligible library materials to them via Campus Mail to wherever Campus Mail currently delivers on the Lawrence campus. Get started by clicking the "Recalls & Requests" button on the KU Library Catalog then select Retrieve from Shelf. Complete the form and select "-z TripSaver" as your pick up location. This service is not available to graduate students, undergraduate students or Kansas residents.

Recommend the KU Libraries purchase a certain book

Go to Recommend An item To be Purchased Form

Other individuals with a valid KU Library Borrower Card

may use Retrieve from Shelf Service by clicking the "Recalls & Requests" button on the KU Library Catalog to submit requests for items in the KU Library Annex. They are not eligible for any other service listed on this page for KU faculty, staff, and students.

Other individuals

may utilize some of the KU Libraries onsite but are not eligible for any of the services listed on this page. They should contact their local library if they are interested in obtaining anything not available as an onsite patron.

Residents of the state of Kansas and participants in reciprocal programs

may inquire about applying for a KU Library Borrower Card at the Service Desk in Watson Library or at the Regents Center Library on the Edwards Campus. See Summary of requirements for access for more information.

Other libraries who wish to obtain materials from the University of Kansas Libraries can review options here

Faculty, staff, and students of the University of Kansas Medical Center should contact the KU Med Center Library for all of their needs. Click here for more information.

The holdings of the Kenneth Spencer Research Library, the University's archives, regional history and rare books and manuscripts library (OCLC symbol: KFS), are not available for loan. Librarians and archivists may approve the copying of portions of some items in the collections. See http://spencer.lib.ku.edu/services/ for more information.