WHAT IS INTERLIBRARY LOAN (ILL)?
Interlibrary Loan is a free service that provides access to materials that are not available through SIUC's Morris Library. All students, faculty, and staff can use it. Courtesy card holders may use it for a fee.
WHAT TYPES OF MATERIALS CAN I REQUEST?
You
can request any type of material through ILL and there is no limit to how many
individual requests a person may submit,
however, some items, especially audio-visual materials, may be difficult
to obtain or unavailable. Music CDs
& Movies (DVDs & Videos) are limited to 3 requests per week. Course
textbooks requests cannot be filled.
HOW LONG CAN I KEEP AN ITEM? CAN I RENEW IT?
Loan periods for items borrowed from I-Share libraries are 4 weeks. Items can be renewed 3 times. You can request renewals through your online accounts. Here’s how:
WILL I HAVE TO PAY FOR USING ILL?
There is no charge for SIU students and staff requesting ILLs, but you may be billed for overdue charges or lost books. Contact Interlibrary Loan at 618/453-3374 or illmail@lib.siu.edu 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays for more information on these fees. (Note: Courtesy Card holders do have to pay a user fee on any Interlibrary Loan.)
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECEIVE AN ILL?
ILLs generally take 7 to 10 weekdays to arrive, depending on where the item originates and the request method used. You can expect I-Share requests to arrive more quickly than Interlibrary Loans (4 to 7 days) since they generally aren’t travelling as far.
HOW WILL I BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE ITEM ARRIVES?
The ILL Department sends an email to the address you provide when you create your account. It serves to notify you when your item has arrived and is available for pickup. Contact the Circulation Services to update your address. To retrieve your forgotten ILL password, email twinter@lib.siu.edu or dbond@lib.siu.edu
HOW CAN I GET MORE HELP USING ILL?
STEP #1 SEARCH LOCALLY
Following a protocol is an important part of using the system efficiently. Your request will run smoothly and quickly if you try to get your books from the nearest location. Check the SIU Catalog to see if the item you want is available from us here at Morris Library.
If the item you want is shelved at the McLafferty Annex, you can ask that it be brought to the Circulation Services Desk.
STEP #2 EXPAND YOUR SEARCH ACROSS THE STATE
If you don’t find the item you want in I-Share, look for it online in I-Share. You’ll be simultaneously searching dozens of college and university catalogs statewide when you do.
NOTE: If you are taking an Off-campus Academic Program or if you’re a Distance Learning Student, go straight to Step #3 and use the Interlibrary Loan request system to obtain a journal article. For more information, visit our DISTANCE LEARNING section on the library’s website or contact Amber Burtis … aburtis@lib.siu.edu, 618/453-1448.
STEP #3 SEARCH THE WORLD
If your item is not available through I-Share, you have another option. Use the Interlibrary Loan System to get copies of magazine, journal, or newspaper articles that aren’t in Morris Library’s collection. Also retrieve books, audio recordings, and videos there. You’ll have access to the collections of libraries nationally and even internationally when you do.