diff --git a/.env.sample b/.env.sample
index 60277911..81cc6343 100644
--- a/.env.sample
+++ b/.env.sample
@@ -5,3 +5,5 @@ FRAMEWORK_ALMA_API_KEY=KEY_GOES_HERE
 FRAMEWORK_ALMA_API_URL=https://api-na.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/almaws/v1/
 FRAMEWORK_ALMA_SANDBOX_KEY=KEY_GOES_HERE
 LIT_TIND_API_KEY=KEY_GOES_HERE
+# set a warning message when we know we're getting rate limited by OCLC
+FRAMEWORK_LOCATION_REQUESTS_ALERT="Location Requests that involve WorldCat lookups are currently being rate limited by OCLC. We have contacted OCLC support and are awaiting resolution."
diff --git a/app/helpers/location_requests_alert_helper.rb b/app/helpers/location_requests_alert_helper.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fb99a46a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/helpers/location_requests_alert_helper.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+module LocationRequestsAlertHelper
+  def location_requests_alert
+    Rails.configuration.location_requests_alert.presence
+  end
+
+  def display_location_requests_alert
+    alert = location_requests_alert
+    content_tag(:div, alert, class: 'alert alert-warning', role: 'alert') if alert
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/views/location_requests/new.html.erb b/app/views/location_requests/new.html.erb
index b37dc58e..b9f5acc9 100644
--- a/app/views/location_requests/new.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/location_requests/new.html.erb
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 <h1>Location Request</h1>
+
+<%= display_location_requests_alert %>
+
 <p>
   The Location Request tool takes an OCLC number and queries OCLC and/or HathiTrust.
   The tool is good for searching for single-volume monographs. For multi-volume monographs
diff --git a/config/altmedia.yml b/config/altmedia.yml
index f69c3e73..63a9f876 100644
--- a/config/altmedia.yml
+++ b/config/altmedia.yml
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ default: &default
   alma_api_url: <%= ENV["FRAMEWORK_ALMA_API_URL"].presence || 'https://api-na.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/almaws/v1/' %>
   alma_api_key: <%= ENV["FRAMEWORK_ALMA_API_KEY"].presence || 'fake-api-key' %>
   alma_sandbox_key: <%= ENV["FRAMEWORK_ALMA_SANDBOX_KEY"].presence || 'fake-api-key' %>
+  location_requests_alert: <%= ENV["FRAMEWORK_LOCATION_REQUESTS_ALERT"] %>
   paypal_payflow_url: <%= ENV["PAYPAL_PAYFLOW_URL"] || 'https://payflowlink.paypal.com' %>
   paypal_payflow_login: <%= ENV["PAYPAL_PAYFLOW_LOGIN"] || 'ucblibrary' %>
   tind_base_uri: <%= ENV["LIT_TIND_BASE_URL"] || 'https://digicoll.lib.berkeley.edu/' %>
diff --git a/config/application.rb b/config/application.rb
index bfffb17c..e80b167b 100644
--- a/config/application.rb
+++ b/config/application.rb
@@ -85,6 +85,9 @@ def log_active_storage_root!(active_storage_root)
     # Valid groups for libproxy access based on Alma groups
     config.libproxy_groups = config.libproxy['valid_groups']
 
+    # alert message on location requests when we know we're being rate limited
+    config.location_requests_alert = config.altmedia['location_requests_alert']
+
     # Tind set values for marc inserts
     config.tind_resource_types = config.tind_marc['resource_types']
     config.tind_restrictions = config.tind_marc['restrictions']
diff --git a/spec/helpers/location_requests_alert_helper_spec.rb b/spec/helpers/location_requests_alert_helper_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ab7426bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/helpers/location_requests_alert_helper_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+require 'rails_helper'
+
+describe LocationRequestsAlertHelper, type: :helper do
+  let(:configured_alert) { nil }
+
+  before do
+    allow(Rails.configuration).to receive(:location_requests_alert).and_return(configured_alert)
+  end
+
+  describe '#location_requests_alert' do
+    subject(:location_requests_alert) { helper.location_requests_alert }
+
+    context 'when the alert is not configured' do
+      it { is_expected.to be_nil }
+    end
+
+    context 'when the alert is blank' do
+      let(:configured_alert) { ' ' }
+
+      it { is_expected.to be_nil }
+    end
+
+    context 'when the alert is configured' do
+      let(:configured_alert) { 'OCLC requests are currently rate limited.' }
+
+      it { is_expected.to eq(configured_alert) }
+    end
+  end
+
+  describe '#display_location_requests_alert' do
+    subject(:output) { helper.display_location_requests_alert }
+
+    context 'when the alert is not configured' do
+      it { is_expected.to be_nil }
+    end
+
+    context 'when the alert is configured' do
+      let(:configured_alert) { 'OCLC requests are currently rate limited.' }
+
+      it 'renders the configured message as a warning alert' do
+        render html: output
+
+        assert_dom 'div.alert.alert-warning[role=?]', 'alert', text: configured_alert, count: 1
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/system/location_requests_system_spec.rb b/spec/system/location_requests_system_spec.rb
index 05110537..f8538d95 100644
--- a/spec/system/location_requests_system_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/system/location_requests_system_spec.rb
@@ -13,6 +13,29 @@
     end
   end
 
+  describe 'location requests alert' do
+    let(:configured_alert) { nil }
+
+    before do
+      allow(Rails.configuration).to receive(:location_requests_alert).and_return(configured_alert)
+      visit new_location_request_path
+    end
+
+    context 'when the alert is not configured' do
+      it 'does not display a warning alert' do
+        expect(page).to have_no_selector('div.alert.alert-warning[role="alert"]')
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when the alert is configured' do
+      let(:configured_alert) { 'OCLC requests are currently rate limited.' }
+
+      it 'displays the configured warning alert' do
+        expect(page).to have_selector('div.alert.alert-warning[role="alert"]', text: configured_alert)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
   shared_examples 'a form with immediate and off-hours options' do
     it 'includes the "immediate" radio group' do
       [true, false].each do |state|