The Librarian determines which materials in the collection should be made available on loan. Certain publications should comprise the reference collection, which should not be permitted to leave the library at any time. As a general rule, the indexes, United Nations Yearbooks and other reference publications should not be loaned.

For those categories of documents which may be loaned, it is suggested that the Library have at least two copies of each. One of the copies is a depository copy, which is retained in the library at all times; the second is the circulating copy. Each library must decide the length of the loan: 15 days, renewable, three weeks, etc. A record of the loaned document containing information on the borrower must be kept in the library.

For some libraries it may be easier to establish a procedure for loaning documentation through other libraries. This procedure, known as "Inter—library Loan" greatly reduces the likelihood of lost material, as the borrowing library assumes the responsibility for returning the documentation.