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Resource Sharing: InterLibrary Loan (ILL)

An informational guide on resource sharing methods like InterLibrary Loan and PASCAL Delivers.

What is ILL?

If our Library does not have the book or article you are looking for and PASCAL can't fill your request what do you do?

You can use our InterLibrary Loan Service!

  • Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a FREE SERVICE for all currently enrolled students, faculty, and staff of J. Drake Edens Library.

  • ILL provides access to thousands of other library collections across the United States that contain books, journal articles, and other media.

  • If there is a book or article that J. Drake Edens Library does not own, and it isn't available through PASCAL, you can request it using our online ILL request forms.

  • We will contact other libraries who own the requested material and provide you with the book or a photocopy of the article.

Making A Request

  • Check whether the J. Drake Edens Library owns the item you need.
  • If the Library does not own the item, you may request it using the Interlibrary Loan form for books or for articles.

  • You will be able to make the request by searching through the Library catalog, if the item is not available you will be guided towards a link leading to our ILL form.

**Pro-Tip:

Make sure you type the title of your book or article exactly and place quotation marks around the title. 

Example: "Pride and Prejudice" 

  • Turn-around time may depend on availability of the item, locations/distance of the lending library, and lender conditions or restrictions.

Receiving Items

  • Interlibrary loans are typically requested from another library within 24 hours.

  • Allow one to two weeks for an item to arrive.  Books are shipped via regular mail.  Articles usually arrive sooner.

  • You will receive an email when your items are available:

    • Books may be picked up at the J. Drake Edens Library circulation desk.
    • If books are not picked up, they will be returned to the lending library.
    • Articles are usually received electronically.  You will be notified via email with your article attached.
  • Please comply with all instructions from the lending library, such as copyright restrictions for articles and due dates for books.

  • Return books to the J. Drake Edens Library circulation desk by the DUE DATE indicated.

ILL Policies

The J. Drake Edens Library is bound by any restrictions placed on loans by the lending library.  These may include restricting use of the material to within the library building, obtaining the signature of the borrower, and/or prohibiting photocopying.  Interlibrary loans are governed by the Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States of the American Library Association.

The requesting library is responsible for complying with the provisions of Section 108(g)(2) Copyright Law and the Guidelines for the Proviso of Subsection 108(g)(2) prepared by the National Commission on New Technological Uses of Copyrighted Works (the CONTU Guidelines).