Services & Programs

Material that is not in Mechanics’ Institute Library’s collection may be borrowed from another library via interlibrary loan (ILL). In addition, while lending libraries as a rule do not loan entire journals or newspaper issues, copies of magazine or newspaper articles can also be requested. It takes between two to six weeks to fill an interlibrary loan request. The average loan period for materials is three weeks.

• Mechanics’ Institute Library does not borrow from institutions located within San Francisco that are freely accessible to the public.
• We do not borrow books internationally from libraries overseas, including eMaterials or scanned copies from journals.
• A maximum of five requests per member will be processed per month.
• All materials obtained through interlibrary loan are subject to the policies of the lending library and to international copyright laws.

Members are responsible for paying any borrowing or copy fees set by the lending library plus shipping costs as needed. Members must indicate in the ILL request how much they are willing to pay for this service. Overdue fines for interlibrary loan materials are $.50/day.

To submit an interlibrary loan request, use this form. If you have any additional questions please email cchang@milibrary.org.

Library by Mail-Outreach Services is a specially-funded library program for Mechanics' Institute members who are not able to come into the library due to illness, injury or disability or who are caring for ill, injured or disabled family members.

Underwritten by a generous grant from a Mechanics’ member, the Library by Mail program provides library materials by postal mail. This program is strictly limited to registered participants and can be activated upon completion of the registration form included here or completing the online registration form. Please reach out to 415-393-0101 if you need assistance with registration.

Materials are mailed free of charge to members through a special service offered by the U.S. Postal Service. All library materials will circulate to registered program members for six weeks. Participants are permitted four items per request.

To register for this program, please complete the application form, call 415-393-0101, or email cchang@milibrary.org

We will have you on your way to home-delivered library materials in no time.

If you’d like to contribute resources or to assist with this program, please contact 415-393-0102 or reach out via email (reference@milibrary.org)