Interlibrary Loan

What is Interlibrary Loan? / Who may use ILL? / How do I use ILL? / How long does it take? / Is there a charge? /
How long may I keep books? / How do I returned borrowed materials? / ILL Rush Request

What is interlibrary loan?

Interlibrary loan is a service which provides you with study and research materials not available in the Coates Library. We borrow books for you from other libraries and deliver electronic versions of journal articles to your desktop. The conditions of this service are set by local agreements, the regulations of the individual lending libraries, and the National Interlibrary Loan Code.

Who may use interlibrary loan?

Current Trinity University students, faculty, retired faculty, and staff in good standing are eligible.
If your borrowing privileges have been blocked, we cannot supply interlibrary loan services to you. However, as soon as you take the needed steps to restore your good standing, we will be happy to fulfill your requests.

How do I use interlibrary loan?

Simply register and create an account in ILLiad, our online ILL system, then complete and submit your ILL request.

How long does it take to get a book or photocopy via interlibrary loan?

The time taken for requested materials to arrive depends upon several factors, including how close the supplying library is to Trinity, whether or not the item is immediately available at that library, and transit time. You should generally allow one to four weeks for receipt. IT IS IMPORTANT TO PLAN AHEAD WHEN REQUESTING MATERIALS ON INTERLIBRARY LOAN. Electronic versions of articles often arrive at your desktop within 3-4 days or sooner. 

Is there a charge for interlibrary loan?

There is usually no charge to students for materials received through ILL. A faculty or staff member is charged only when his or her charges in a single fiscal year exceed $500. Rush delivery, when requested by the recipient, will be charged in full. (See below.)

How long may I keep books?

The loan period is determined by the lending library and is usually two to three weeks. A renewal should be requested only when absolutely necessary and may be denied by the lending library. A renewal request must be made in advance of the due date.

How do I return borrowed materials?

All materials borrowed through interlibrary loan should be returned to the Coates Library circulation desk. Please leave the yellow book sleeve attached. Late return of materials jeopardizes the ability of our library to borrow from other libraries in the future. Students will incur fines for overdue ILL items.

ILL RUSH REQUESTS

What is interlibrary loan rush service?

While we make every effort to submit ILL requests to likely suppliers within 24 hours of receipt, the library and user must still wait for the supplier’s processing time and delivery time, usually by USPS library rate delivery. For users who cannot wait for this normal delivery time, we offer rush service if it is available for the particular item requested. Library staff will select a supplier, usually a document delivery company, which will process the request promptly and send via an expedited service, including fax, overnight mail, or Federal Express.

What delivery time can I expect for rush service?

The speed of service depends somewhat on the particular company providing service for the item, as well as on the format of the item. For instance, photocopies of articles can be faxed from several services within 24 hours. Books and microfilm reels must be sent via overnight mail or a courier service, usually from another library, so 48-72 hour turnaround time is often more normal for these items.

What is the cost for rush service?

All additional fees incurred as a result of using rush service must be paid by the user. Unfortunately, some fees cannot be fully determined at the time a request is submitted. However, ILL staff will attempt to give an accurate estimate of the total charge. Faculty and staff may ask to have the bill charged to their departments; students must pay by check or money order at the library’s circulation desk when the item is picked up.

Is delivery time guaranteed?

We will make every attempt to make the material available as soon as possible. However, most of the document delivery vendors do not guarantee delivery time, nor do other libraries. Thus, all fees will still be due even if an item is somewhat delayed. In cases of seriously late service, the library staff will contact the vendors and attempt to receive a refund on the charges. If we are successful, you will not be charged.

How do I request ILL Rush Service?

To request an item via rush delivery, follow the instructions that you will find on the online request form.

Can I order directly from document supplier myself? 

You can locate and order articles direct from IngentaConnect by supplying your credit card number. Faxes can be sent to the library’s fax machine; ask for the number in the Interlibrary Loan office. (Note: non-ILL items may not be directed to this machine; the library will charge $2/page for any non-library fax items received.)