WHAT IS INTERLIBRARY LOAN (ILL)?

Interlibrary loan (commonly referred to as ILL) is the process by which library materials (mainly books and journal articles) are made available by one library to another.

WHAT IS ILLiad?

ILLiad is is the software we use to provide interlibrary loan service. A simple, web-based patron interface allows our users to initiate and track their own requests from any browser.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO USE ILL?

Current faculty, staff, and students of Niagara University are eligible to use ILL for University/course-related work. Alumni, courtesy card holders, and InfoPass holders are NOT eligible.

WHAT MATERIALS CAN BE REQUESTED THROUGH ILL?

Books (but not textbooks), photocopies of journal articles (within the restrictions of copyright law), ERIC documents, and many dissertations and theses may be requested through ILL. We can usually obtain audiovisual materials, but they must be for classroom use or research. Unrequestable materials include items on reserve, textbooks, entire issues of journals, and computer software.

HOW MANY ITEMS CAN I REQUEST THROUGH ILL?

Due to the high cost of ILLs, you may request up to 25 articles, 25 books and 15 audiovisual materials per semester. If your research requires more materials, please contact Samantha Gust, Interlibrary Loan Librarian, at 716-286-8031 or gust@niagara.edu.

IS THERE A CHARGE TO USE ILL?

NU makes every attempt to obtain materials free of charge and usually can.

HOW LONG DOES ILL TAKE?

We are committed to processing ILL requests in a timely manner. If you order an article from a journal that Niagara University Library does not own, we will ask a Library that does own the journal to send us a photocopy, which we will then forward to you. Because we cannot control how quickly other libraries will respond to our request, it can take anywhere from 2 to 10 days for your article to arrive. Please allow up to 2 weeks for books and audiovisual materials to arrive. Mid-semester requests may take longer due to high volume, so allow ample time. If any unusual problems arise that delay your request, you will be contacted.

HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN MY MATERIAL HAS ARRIVED?

ILLiad will notifiy you via email when your item has arrived. Books, audiovisual materials, dissertations and theses are not mailed - please pick these items up at the Circulation Desk. Articles will be sent to your ILLiad acccount or held at the Circulation Desk, if you prefer. You may check the Circulation Desk in person or by phone (286-8020) to see if an item is being held for you. If you check in person, please look at the bulletin board to your right as you walk into the Library. If your last name is written on the board, then your material has arrived.

HOW LONG CAN I KEEP ILL MATERIAL?

Photocopies of journal articles and purchased dissertations and theses are yours to keep.

The due date for books, audiovisual materials and borrowed dissertations and theses is determined by the lending library, not NU, and is usually between 2-4 weeks. Books, audiovisual materials and borrowed dissertations and theses must be returned to the Circulation Desk on or before the due date or you will be charged overdue fines of $1.00 per day. Please plan your research accordingly.

HOW DO I SUBMIT A REQUEST?

Students and faculty & staff must register for an ILLiad account (you only need to register once) and then submit the appropriate request form (found in the left-hand menu). You may also request items directly from our EBSCOhost databases and WorldCat using the ILLiad links.

If you have any questions or comments regarding interlibrary loan, please contact Samantha Gust, Interlibrary Loan Librarian, at 716-286-8031 or gust@niagara.edu.