Skip to Main Content

Course & Subject Guides

Tips for Navigating Owen Library - Johnstown Campus: Borrowing from Other Libraries

Don't get lost in Owen Library! Learn how to find and access various resources & services available at Owen Library or through Pitt's University Library System.

If the material you need is unavailable at Owen Library . . .

If Owen Library does not have a particular book, journal article or other resource, you may be able to borrow it from another Pitt campus or a non-Pitt library through one of our free interlibrary loan (ILL) services.

Start your research early! Most ILL requests take between 2 to 10 business days to be filled, depending on how far away the item is. When your requested material arrives, you will be notified through your Pitt e-mail and have 10 days to pick it up at the Owen Library Information Desk. Most ULS books have an academic year loan period and EZBorrow books have a 16-week loan period (with no renewals). The loan period for all other books is determined by the lending library.

When submitting your requests, be sure to select "Johnstown Campus Library - Owen" as your pickup location!

Questions or requests for assistance regarding borrowing from other libraries can be directed to the Owen Library Information Desk (814-269-7300).

Ways to Borrow

Use Get It to request materials that you would like to borrow either physically or digitally from any ULS location. The materials will be delivered to the location you select.

Use 'Request' to receive print materials from any Pitt library or ULS - Thomas Blvd.

To make a request:

  1. Sign into your account in PittCat
  2. Find the item you want and click on the title
  3. Sign-in and follow the prompts under Get It to request your item 
  4. Follow the on-screen options to request your item
  5. You will be notified via your Pitt email address when the item is available

For more information, see our Get It page. Please contact us so we can work with you to try and get the material you need.

You may request a digital copy of an article or book chapter from any materials found in the University Library System by using Get It. Please note that this does not include materials in the Health Sciences Library System or Law. We’ll digitize the pages and email them to you (within copyright adherence).

Use 'Digitization' to receive a scanned book chapter or an article from print material.

To make a request:

  1. Sign into your account in PittCat
  2. Find the item you want and click on the title
  3. Look for the Get It, Request options for the title.
  4. Follow the on-screen options to request your item
  5. You will receive an email with the attached digitized copy.

Additional questions? Please contact us so we can work with you to try and get the material you need.

Pitt Libraries partner with multiple institutions locally, nationally, and internationally through Resource Sharing to bring resources to you! A one-time user registration is required before using the form. You will not need to re-enter personal information every time you make a request.

  1. If you find a resource in PittCat that is not available to borrow, you can still place a request for it by following the link to request a scan or the physical item. Note: You must be logged into PittCat to initiate the request.
  2. If you cannot find your desired resource in PittCat, you can still request it directly through the Resource Sharing Form.

If you ever need help placing a request, please contact ResourceSharing@library.pitt.edu.