Interlibrary Loan Services - General Information
WHAT IS INTERLIBRARY LOAN SERVICES (ILL)?
- Interlibrary Loan Services offer eligible users the opportunity to request and receive materials that are not available in VCU Libraries collections. Materials are located and borrowed from other libraries and institutions in Virginia, other states and other countries.
WHO MAY USE ILL SERVICES?
- Eligible users of Interlibrary Loan Services include currently enrolled or employed VCU faculty, staff, students, Health System Employees and some affiliates, e.g., Loansome Doc Health Care providers. See Service and Fees for schedules of charges associated with ILL.
WHEN SHOULD I USE ILL?
Use ILL to request materials that are "unavailable" in the VCU Libraries Collections.
WHEN IS AN ITEM "UNAVAILABLE?"
Unavailable items include materials that are:
- not owned by VCU Libraries
- checked out
- at the bindery
- missing
- lost
- not on the shelf
Generally, unavailable items cannot be retrieved by the user within a reasonable amount of time.
WHEN WILL MY REQUEST TO REGISTER BE DENIED?
Your registration will be denied if you do not provide a valid:
- VCU eID username and password. The ILLiad system will deny you access. Complete the Logon Problem Report Form.
- Status. Your status is used for determining the services to provide, whether to charge you for a service and for statistical purposes.
- Mailing address. Your mailing address is needed to ship materials to you and helps us to identify the level of services to provide you.
- Email address. The ILLiad system uses this address to send you notices.
WHAT MATERIALS MAY BE REQUESTED?
Interlibrary Loan Services support your educational, research and adminstrative needs by providing you with materials that are not available in VCU Libraries collections. We will attempt to borrow:
- All types/formats of materials (videos, DVD, cassettes, etc.)
- Books
- Book chapters
- Computer files
- Journal articles
- Music scores
- Patents
- Standard Reports
- Theses/Dissertations
- Other non-print materials.
- Items that are owned by VCU Libraries with the status of: "lost," "missing," "not returned by patron," "at the bindery," or "damaged."
WHAT MATERIALS MAY NOT BE REQUESTED?
- Items that are listed on the library catalog as "on shelf " or "routed." If you are not able to locate an item on the shelf and wish to submit an ILL request for it, please add a note in the request that you were not able to locate this item.
- Materials that are owned by VCU Libraries that can be found in Research & Instructional Services, Special Collections & Archives, or on reserve
- Entire issues or volumes of journals
- Textbooks
- Items available through the Richmond Area Film/Video Cooperative Resources (see Cabell Library Media & Reserve Services, 3rd floor)
IS THERE A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF ITEMS REQUESTED?
- There is no limit on the number of requests you may submit at any time.
- Before submitting requests, check the online catalog to determine the material availability.
- Materials borrowed from other institutions will have varying loan periods and in some case may not be renewable. Schedule your requests accordingly.
HOW SOON WILL I RECEIVE REQUESTED MATERIALS?
- Allow 1 to 7 business days for articles.
- Allow 1-4 weeks for books and other returnables.
- Some requests may take longer to fill depending upon the delivery method and location of the lending library.
- VCU Libraries cannot guarantee delivery by a specified date.
Most requests are processed within 24 hours of receipt. The delay in obtaining materials not held in VCU Libraries is incurred while waiting action from the library that is lending the item.
HOW CAN I SPEED UP THE PROCESS?
- Check the library catalog first. The number one reason for unnecessary delay is that VCU Libraries owns the requested item.
- Provide accurate information on the request.
- Use official abbreviations and citations from standard bibliographic sources, e.g., catalogs, databases and indexes.
- Ask a library staff member to assist you with completing the form or identifying the citation information when you are uncertain how to do this.
- Make sure your ILLiad profile indicates your preferred delivery methods.
- Indicate whether the item is available in VCU Libraries.
- Include a reasonable date in the "Not Wanted After Date" field of your request.
WHAT ARE THE LOAN PERIODS FOR ILL MATERIALS?
- Loan periods and lending restrictions are determined by the lending library. Patron status does not influence the due date for ILL materials. The due date VCU Libraries gives is the maximum time allowed by the lender. Some items can be renewed and some cannot.
- Pay close attention to the due dates inscribed on each item. Not all items will be due on the same date even if your requests were submitted, picked up by you and delivered at the same times.
HOW CAN I DETERMINE IF AN ITEM CAN BE RENEWED?
- Check the information printed on the band that covers the items. This information is also found in your ILLiad record. Some libraries do not permit renewal of their materials. If the library does not permit renewals, please return the item and submit another request. We will attempt to borrow the item from another library.
- If the item is already due, ILLiad will not allow a renewal. Please return the item and submit another request. We will attempt to borrow the item from another library.
- Request renewals for books and other returnables via the ILLiad ILL and Document Delivery System 3 days prior to the due date.
- To renew your materials:
- Log into your ILLiad account
- Select "View Checked Out Items"
- Click on the transaction number (TN) of the item to be renewed.
- ILL materials cannot be renewed via your "My Library Record" or one of the circulation desks in the VCU Libraries.
WHY DON'T I SEE MY OLDER REQUESTS WHEN LOOKING AT MY REQUEST HISTORY?
From time to time VCU Libraries purges older records from ILLiad for space and record management purposes.
WHAT ARE THE FEES FOR THIS SERVICE
WHAT ARE THE DELIVERY OPTIONS
- Campus Mail
- Electronic Delivery for articles
- UPS
- First class mail
- Pick up at one of VCU Libraries
WHAT ARE THE FINES FOR OVERDUE, LOST OR DAMAGED MATERIAL
- Minimum damaged fee is $10.00 per item
- There is a non-refundable overdue processing fee of $10 per item
- Minimum lost fine for not returning an item is $100.00 per item
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Resource Delivery Offices: |
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Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences |
James Branch Cabell Library |