How to Use Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

Also available in printer-friendly pdf and doc files.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) at the University of Colorado at Boulder (UCB) supports teaching, research and learning by obtaining library materials that UCB does not own. Materials are either loaned to UCB or photocopied by U.S. and international libraries.

Introductory Tutorial on Interlibrary Loan Options (5:41 minutes, PC/Windows)
by Jack Maness, Reference and Instruction Librarian, Engineering Library.

How Do I Request ILL Materials?

Before initiating an ILL request, check the Libraries Chinook Catalog (http://libraries.colorado.edu) to see if the title you need is in the UCB collection or in a full-text database. Full-text journals may be located in either the Chinook catalog by periodical title or through e-resources.

 

For books, use the Prospector link in Chinook to search a unified catalog of regional libraries. If available, books can be obtained more quickly through Prospector than standard ILL.

 

Books, as well as articles and other materials, can also be requested directly through the FirstSearch suite of databases located on the Chinook main menu under the ILL link. After selecting a record, click on the ILL ordering icon.

 

If you’ve tried these options and still can’t find what you need, use ILLiad, the ILL electronic ordering system.

 

Be sure to provide accurate and complete citations on your requests.

Who Can Use ILL?

Students, faculty, and staff with an Identikey username and password may use ILLiad. Non-UCB patrons, including alumni, affiliates of UCB, and businesses, should contact local public libraries or the University of Colorado Technical Research Center (CTRC). CTRC offers fee-based ILL service and can be contacted at ctrc@colorado.edu or 303-492-8774.

What Types of Material Can Be Requested?

Books, articles, conference papers, proceedings, musical scores, newspapers, dissertations, theses, and other media as available can be requested, as well as materials in non-English languages.

What Can’t Be Requested?

In general, items in the UCB Libraries that are temporarily in use or on reserve should not be requested through ILL. Prospector can be used to locate and request books that are checked out or missing at UCB. Materials not available through Prospector can be requested through ILL.

 

Except in rare cases, lending libraries will not supply original copies of newspapers, rare, valuable or fragile materials, original material published before 1800, or volumes and issues of periodicals.

How Many ILL Items Can Be Requested?

Due to budget constraints, requests are limited to 10 per week per patron.

How Long Does ILL Take?

Plan ahead. The length of time needed to fill a request depends on many factors, including availability of the material, lending policies, and location of the lending library. Materials are usually received within 2-3 weeks, although some may take just a few days to arrive, and others may take several months.

How Long Can I Keep Materials?

Most items can be used for 2-3 weeks. The lending library sets the due date. One renewal may be requested prior to due date by logging on to ILLiad and clicking on the "View/Renew Checked Out Items" button. This automatically sends the renewal request to the loaning library, which may or may not grant an extension. Some libraries restrict their materials to in-library use only. Please be sure to return or renew materials by the due date to ensure ongoing ILL privileges. Overdue materials may be subject to late fees of $20.00 and replacement costs of $200.00 per item. Your ILLiad account will be blocked until long overdue materials are returned or paid for.

How Do I Receive My Interlibrary Loan Materials?

Photocopies may be delivered (1) via mail to your campus box or to your home address, (2) as a PDF file posted to a secure website, or (3) via email as a PDF file.  This will depend on the supplying library, not personal preference.  PDF files may be viewed online for a limited time period or printed.  Copyright laws apply.  Making multiple copies for wide distribution or re-posting articles to a website are not allowed without publisher permission and royalty payments.

How to Return ILL Materials?

ILL materials can be returned to either the Circulation Desk or the ILL return slot by the service window.

Are There Any Costs?

Each ILL request costs, on average, $30 to fill, but these costs are not generally charged to UCB users. Patrons will be billed for lost or damaged items.

Who To Contact with Questions, Problems?

Appointments with ILL staff can be made at the Norlin Circulation Desk, or, you can call us at 303- 492-1617 or email us at cu-ill@colorado.edu.