All requests for material are processed through the Library Catalog. A patron ID is required for requesting items, but not for searching. For further information, see Visiting the Research Library.

If an item is checked out, you can still request it. The request will be processed as a recall. This applies to both General Collections and Special Collections material. If there is an issue recalling the material, library staff will contact you.

Please consult the circulation schedule for request and pick-up times based on the item location.

About 80% of General Collection materials must be requested via the Library Catalog because the materials are housed in various locations (Library Annex, Storage, and several departments/areas across the Getty campuses). About 20% of the General Collection materials are located in the open stacks on Plaza, L2, and L3 levels in the Research Library.

Plaza Readers must request all General Collection materials via the Library Catalog regardless of the item location and the materials will be made available in the Plaza Reading Room. All other researchers must retrieve Plaza, L2 and L3 materials themselves and for non-Reference materials must use self-checkout on the library's public computers.

If a book is in Special Collections, request it as you would a General Collection book and make a Special Collections Reading Room appointment by contacting the Reference Desk 310-440-7390, stopping by the Reference Desk Monday - Friday 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. or submitting a Library Request Form.

Requesting Special Collections materials through the Library Catalog does not confirm a Special Collections Reading Room appointment.

1. Go to the Library Catalog and sign in with your patron ID and password. You may be prompted to update your password.
2. Complete your search.
3. Select desired title.
4. Select the blue Request button on the left side of the screen on detailed record.
5. Select the blue Request link in the request section (Depending on the record, there are two places the Request link can be located. Example 1: top of request section; Example 2: on the right side of the request section.)
6. Select the green SUBMIT button to finalize the request (If the Material Type and Terms of Use fields are blank, please leave the fields blank and proceed to submit your request.)
7. When a request is successfully submitted you will see "Request placed" on the screen.
8. You may also view My Account to confirm that your request was placed. To go to My Account, select your name at the top of your screen. Then select My Requests. Your requested items will appear in the requests list.

If a periodical or journal is in Special Collections, request it as you would a General Collection periodical or journal and make a Special Collections Reading Room appointment by contacting the Reference Desk 310-440-7390, stopping by the Reference Desk Monday - Friday 9:30 a.m. -5:00 p.m. or submitting a Library Request Form.

Requesting Special Collections materials through the Library Catalog does not confirm a Special Collections Reading Room appointment.

1. Go to the Library Catalog and sign in with your patron ID and password. You may be prompted to update your password.
2. Complete your search.
3. Select desired title.
4. Select the blue Request button on the left side of the screen on detailed record.
5. Navigate to desired journal issue by using Volume/Box down drop list or selecting a page from the records results and then select your desired issue.
6. Select the blue Request link beside the desired journal issue.
7. Select the green SUBMIT button to finalize the request.
8. When a request is successful the text on screen will indicate "Request placed".
9. You may also view My Account to confirm that your request was placed. To go to My Account, select your name at the top of your screen. Then select My Requests. Your requested items will appear in the requests list.

Special Collections Reading Room appointments: Special Collections and archival material must be consulted by appointment in the Special Collections Reading Room (which is open Monday - Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.). In order to properly view oversize items which are designated with an asterisk(s) (e.g., box 825*, flat file 526**), additional space in the Special Collections Reading Room will need to reserved.

Requesting material through the Library Catalog does not confirm a Special Collections Reading Room appointment.

Restricted items: Some items may be restricted and are therefore unable to be requested through the Library Catalog.

Audiovisual materials: Select the items identified as "Use Copy"; original and master recordings do not circulate. If there is not a use copy available, the item will need to be reformatted into a digital copy. Digitization may take up to 8-10 weeks to complete.

For assistance with restricted items, audiovisual material digitization and other materials in addition to reserving a seat by appointment in the Special Collections Reading Room, contact the Reference Desk at 310-440-7390 or stop by Monday - Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. You may also submit a Library Request Form.

Archives with Finding Aids

1. Go to Library Catalog and sign in with your patron ID and password. You may be prompted to change your password
2. Complete your search.
3. Select desired title.
4. Select "Connect to finding aid for..." in the detailed record.
5. In the finding aid, locate the material you need and make a note of the box, flat file, or roll number.
6. Return to the Library Catalog, by selecting "catalog record" at top of finding aid.
7. Select the blue Request button on left side of detailed record.
8. Navigate to the desired box number by using Volume/Box down drop list and then select your desired box number.
9. Select the blue "Special Collections..." link.
10. Select the blue Request link.*
11. Select the green SUBMIT button to finalize the request.
12. When a request is successful the text on screen will indicate "Request placed".
13. My Account, select your name at the top of your screen. Then select My Requests. Your requested items will appear in the requests list.

*If no request link is present or if you do not see a box, flat file, or roll numbers, contact the Reference Desk (310) 440-7390.

Archives without a Finding Aids

1. Go to Library Catalog and sign in with your patron ID and password. You may be prompted to change your password.
2. Complete your search.
3. Select desired title.
4. Select the blue Request button on the left side of the screen of the detailed record.
5. Navigate to box number by using Volume/Box down drop list and then select your desired box number.
6. Select the blue "Special Collections..." link.
7. Select the blue Request link.*
8. Select the green SUBMIT button to finalize the request.
9. When a request is successful the text on screen will indicate "Request placed".
10. You may also view My Account to confirm that your request was placed. To go to My Account, select your name at the top of your screen. Then select My Requests. Your requested items will appear in the requests list.

*If no request link is present or if you do not see a box, flat file, or roll numbers, contact the Reference Desk (310) 440-7390.