In June of 2001, the University of California Libraries initiated a pilot project that enabled library patrons to direct request items held in the University of California Special Collection Units. The pilot ended the need for patrons to initiate most requests for unique items in person through the Special Collections department and allowed patrons to self-determine the need for a unique item when searching the shared UC-wide catalog, Melvyl[R]. The following article discusses the process used to handle the requests, includes perspectives from the two units overseeing the requests, evaluates the overall success of the pilot and offers considerations for implementing a similar service elsewhere. (Contains 1 figure and 1 note.)