The library staff provides reference services and guidance to the above reference services. Library staff also has access to bibliographic information available through OCLC which contains holdings of most research libraries in the United States. It announces new books, library news, and contains the table of contents of recently received journal issues. In addition, the library subscribes to several indexing and abstracting tools that review current scientific literature of interest to staff. All zoo branch library material, except reference, serials, and special collections, are available for loan to Smithsonian staff with a borrower's card.
Loan periods vary according to the borrower's employment status and type of material to be borrowed.
Materials from other branches of the SIL may also be borrowed through the NZP branch. All materials are subject to recall. The public may borrow materials through the interlibrary loan system available to them through public, special and academic libraries. A photocopy machine is located in the mail room down the hall from the library. Materials may be taken to the mail room to be photocopied without checking them out.