What does "not available at the Library" mean?

Why is the material not available?

Some records in the Library of Congress Online Catalog , available at catalog.loc.gov have a status indicating that the item is "not available at the Library." This usually means:

  • the item has been cataloged prior to publication, and the item has not yet been published
  • the Library has not yet received the item
  • the item is currently in process

In addition, some items that are held by the Library may not be requested online for a variety of reasons. The item may be assigned to a reading room reference collection, it may be in use by another researcher, or access to the item may be restricted.

If you have a question about the status of a particular item that has been marked as "not available" in the Library's online catalog,  we encourage you to Ask a Librarian for additional information. Please include the item's author/creator, title and/or LCCN (Library of Congress catalog number) or other identifying information from the online catalog record in your inquiry.

 

Related Topics

Last Updated: Jul 01, 2020
Views: 1439
FAQ Actions

Related Resources

Research Guides
Access hundreds of resource guides created by Library of Congress subject experts.
Video Tutorials
View short tutorials on how to use our many services and research centers.
Researcher Orientations
Request a research consultation or orientation.
Research & Reference Services
Link directly to all services for researchers available onsite and via the Library's website.
Visitor Information
Learn about exhibitions, public events, and view maps and floorplans for the Library of Congress.