Interlibrary Loan: Home

What is the interlibrary loan process at the Darnall Medical Library?

For Articles:

1. You request an article;
2. We verify the citation;
3. We attempt to request from other medical libraries using the DOCLINE service;
4. If we receive the article, we forward it to you.
   1. If we are unable to get the article via DOCLINE, we request from academic and public libraries using OCLC's WorldShare service;
5. If we receive the article, we forward it to you.
   1. If we are unable to get the article via WorldShare, we contact you and ask if we need to purchase the article;
6. If we receive the article, we forward it to you.
   1. If we are unable to purchase, we let you know we've exhausted all of our options.

At any point in this process you can request that we do a literature search to find similar articles.

For Books:

1. You request a book;
2. We verify the citation;
3. We attempt to request from other medical libraries using the DOCLINE service;
4. If we receive the book, we notify you for pick up from DML.
   1. If we are unable to get the book via DOCLINE, we request from academic and public libraries using OCLC's WorldShare service;
5. If we receive the book, we notify you for pick up from DML.
   1. If we are unable to get the article via WorldShare, we let you know we've exhausted all of our options. 

*NOV 2024- We are currently unable to purchase any ILL requests. We apologize for the inconvenience. 

Interlibrary Loan Technician 

Sarah Walton Taylor

sarah.j.waltontaylor.civ@health.mil

301-400-3042

Bethesda WRNMMC List LibTechs

dha.bethesda.wrnmmc.list.libtechs@health.mil

ILL requests are processed Monday through Friday, 0800- 1600. 

What is Interlibrary Loan (ILL)? 

• ILL is a service that allows the DML to request print or electronic materials from other libraries when we do not own or have free access to them. 

Who can use the DML's Interlibrary Loan Service?

• Patrons affiliated with WRNMMC may request medical articles that are not available via the DML's collection. If you're working or credentialed at Walter Reed NMMC, the Darnall Medical Library can help!
• Please provide us with your .mil address for affiliation confirmation. 

How long does it take to receive my request?

• Article requests typically take 1- 3 days. 
• Book requests typically take 1-3 weeks and are available for loan up to 90 days. 

How do I know I need to request an ILL?

• If you are being asked to pay for an article.
• DML does not subscribe to the journal. 
• DML does not own the book. 
• The item is not available for free through open access. 
• The purple @Darnall button indicates the item is not available online. 

Do you need a scan of an article in one of our print journals? Patrons affiliated with WRNMMC may contact the DML library technicians.

PubMed remains your key source for indexed, peer-reviewed literature. Copies of many articles are available for free, others for purchase, see "How to Get the Journal Article."

In addition to PubMed, the following resources offer access to journal articles:

PubMed Central (PMC) Over 9.8 million articles available as of 29 March 2024
Google Scholar
Publishers’ websites
Online free article services and collaborations

For more information, see the NIH Public Access Policy and other open access initiatives.

When DML does not purchase a journal subscription we are able to request an article through ILL. However, there are limits on how many articles we are able to request under the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code), before we have to start paying for additional articles. 

If you request an article we are unable to obtain, you can request a literature search to find similar articles we have access to. 

*NOV 2024- We are currently unable to purchase any article requests. We apologize for the inconvenience. 

• Mon-Fri, 0900-1500, try our Live Chat Service
• Need help? Ask the Library
• Urgent Patient Care Query: Contact the Library
• Looking for a Book or Article? Contact the Library Technicians
• Literature Search / Reference Question? Contact the Librarians
• Conducting Research? Contact the Research Librarian
• Research Design & Publication: Contact Research Discovery
• Darnall Medical Library, Circulation Desk: 295-1184

• TRICARE Appointment Line: 855-227-6331
• Walter Reed NMMC Main Phone: 301-295-4611
• TRICARE Health Services (includes phone numbers)

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• MHS Medical Library (MML)
• USUHS Learning Resource Center
• Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center Library