NAL is the primary provider of work-related agricultural information to USDA employees. We also lend books and other media and provide photocopies of material in the collection, that may not be readily available from other sources, to libraries and other select groups. In addition to this page, also see Common Questions regarding Requesting Library Materials.

1. Request using the AGRICOLA form.
2. Request using the blank web form.
   • Login for individuals
   • Login for libraries/organizations
3. Request using DigiTop (limited to USDA employees).
4. Request using OCLC (NAL's symbol is AGL) or DOCLINE (NAL's library ID is MDUNAL).

Delivery options are listed below. The default delivery method for copies will be e-mail post to web unless you request a different method. Both the AGRICOLA request form and the blank web request form provide the option to change your default delivery method for a particular request.

Materials that are incompatible with electronic delivery will be delivered as follows:

• Loans of books or other original materials - U.S. Mail, library rate
• Articles longer than 30 pages - Mail or interoffice mail
• Articles that cannot be effectively scanned due to large page size or the condition of the material - Mail or interoffice mail

• Articles are posted as Portable Document Format (PDF) files on an NAL web server and the requester is sent an e-mail message containing a link to the requested document.
• A PDF viewer such as Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view documents delivered via this method.
• This delivery method is limited to documents of 30 pages or less.

• Articles are scanned as PDF files and delivered to the requester as e-mail attachments.
• A PDF viewer such as Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view documents delivered via this method. The average page size for PDF documents can vary from 50 to 150+ Kilobytes, resulting in a large file attachment. If delivery of large files is a problem within your local e-mail system, e-mail post to web delivery may be a better alternative.
• This delivery method is limited to documents of 30 pages or less.

• Articles are delivered via Ariel, a commercial software package which sends and receives documents as Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) or PDF files over the Internet.
• Ariel must be installed on the requester's workstation in order to use this delivery method. Ariel is produced by Infotrieve and information on obtaining and using Ariel can be found at the Infotrieve site.
• This delivery method is limited to documents of 30 pages or less.

• Articles are delivered to your local fax machine.
• This delivery method is limited to documents of 10 pages or less.

• Articles are sent via regular or USDA interoffice mail.
• Loans are sent via Federal Express.

• A single copy may be provided, in lieu of loan, from materials in the NAL collection. The decision to make a copy is contingent on normal 'fair use' provisions of copyright (view copyright notice) and the condition of the original material.
• NAL cannot process requests as a rush. The turnaround time for processing copy requests is two business days from receipt of request. There is a limit of 50 pages (30 pages if sent electronically) for each item requested. See Delivery Options for information on delivery methods for copies.

• The standard loan period is 28 days.
• NAL does not loan materials outside of North America.
• NAL cannot process requests as a rush. The turnaround time for processing loan requests is two business days from date of receipt.
• Audiovisuals
• NAL does not offer advance booking services for audiovisuals.
• NAL recommends submitting requests one to two weeks ahead of time if you want to obtain audiovisual materials for a specific show date.
• Non-circulating materials
• The following materials are non-circulating: Serials (except for USDA serials); rare, reference, and reserve books; maps; microfilm; microfiche; and proceedings of conferences or symposia.
• Although these materials may not be borrowed, requests may be filled in the form of a microform or paper copy, subject to normal 'fair use' provisions of copyright and evaluation of the condition of the original material. Please indicate on the request form (in the Notes field) if a copy of the material is acceptable in place of a loan.
• You may also request a copy of the table of contents in order to request specific chapters or sections at a later date.
• Renew/return materials
• Borrowers are responsible for returning (or renewing) materials promptly.
• To request a renewal, call (301) 504-5798 or e-mail us (open e-mail form) prior to the due date.
• Return materials to:
  National Agricultural Library
  Collections Services Branch, Photolab
  10301 Baltimore Avenue
  Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2351

Interlibrary Borrowing

• If the requested materials are not available at the NAL, we will try to obtain them from another source. Note that this service is limited to USDA employees and USDA libraries.
• Turnaround time on interlibrary loans varies depending on location and availability of materials. If a current item cannot be obtained through borrowing, NAL will attempt to purchase it, which also adds to the turnaround time. Including a "Not Needed After" date on all requests is essential.

At the Abraham Lincoln Building, Beltsville, Maryland

NAL is located in the Abraham Lincoln Building (see Visiting the Library for directions and information on hours). Visitors may request materials to review or copy in the Reading Room on the first floor. Additional information is provided below.

Access to the collection: NAL has closed stacks. In certain cases, exceptions may be made to allow limited access to the stacks. Prior to your visit, contact the Access Services Librarian at (301) 504-6041 or e-mail us to inquire about obtaining stack access privileges.

Borrowing materials: Individuals affiliated with any of the following groups may request to borrow materials while visiting NAL:

• USDA employees
• Retired USDA employees
• Eligible participants in the CIRLA (Chesapeake Information and Research Library Alliance) Direct Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement. Under this agreement NAL agrees to extend direct, reciprocal, in-person borrowing privileges to faculty and graduate students from CIRLA member universities and researchers and fellows from CIRLA member federal agencies. Faculty and graduate students requesting direct borrowing privileges must present a completed CIRLA Direct Borrowers Form from their home library.

If you are affiliated with any of the above groups and you want to borrow materials while visiting NAL, you must:

1. Request the materials using the onsite request system described above.
2. Once you have the materials you want to borrow, bring them to the Service Desk. The Service Desk staff will determine if the materials can circulate and charge the items to your Patron ID.

All other visitors may use materials onsite only. To borrow materials you must submit requests through the interlibrary loan service of your local library, such as a public library or university library. Your library will send the request to NAL. NAL fills most requests within two business days after receipt.

Personal copying/scanning equipment: Requests to use personal copying/scanning equipment will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Contact the Access Services librarian at 301-504-6041 or e-mail us prior to your visit to inquire about using personal copying/scanning equipment onsite at NAL.

At the DC Reference Center, Washington, DC