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Interlibrary Loan & Document Express

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Interlibrary Loan

If an item you need isn't available in the ALICE Catalog or OhioLINK ,  you can   request it through Interlibrary Loan .  We'll do our best to find the article, book, book chapter, dissertation, or video from another library. 

  1. Place a request through Interlibrary Loan - ILLiad .
  2. You will receive an email when your items are ready for pickup.
  3. Pick up your items at the Alden 2nd Floor Self-Pickup Shelves.
    • Library Use Only requests (designated by the lender) are available at the Alden 2nd Floor Service Desk.
  4. Return your items to the Alden 2nd or 4th Floor Service Desk.

Sign up to receive text notifications when your items are ready.

Return your materials to the Alden 4th Floor Service Desk. Please do not use book drops for Interlibrary Loan materials. Failure to return materials on time may result in suspension of Interlibrary Loan privileges. Replacement fees for lost or stolen Interlibrary Loan materials are at the discretion of the lending institution. 

Faculty & Staff: due to the nature of materials, ILL requests will be available at the 2nd floor for pick-up by default. If delivery to a faculty/staff office is desired, please reply to ILL notifications or contact ill@ohio.edu . Delivery processing will take an additional 2-3 business days. 

Can I Renew My Interlibrary Loan Items?

Loan periods and renewals for Interlibrary Loan items are determined by the owning institution. To renew your items, log into Interlibrary Loan - ILLiad , or email ill@ohio.edu .

Document Express

Document Express is a service provided by Ohio University Libraries to scan and deliver articles and book chapters from Alden Library, the Music and Dance Library, and the Library Annex.

  1. Place a request through Interlibrary Loan - ILLiad .
  2. Library staff will scan the item for you.
  3. You will receive an email when your PDFs are ready to view.

Loans to Other Libraries

Libraries without OCLC access can place requests through our  online request form . If your library does not have an account and would like to use this service, email  ill@ohio.edu .

Individuals interested in borrowing Ohio University Libraries’ materials: please consult your local library for Interlibrary Loan service.

Copyright Information

The Copyright law of the United States  (Title 17, United States Code)  governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials.  Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction.  One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.”  If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a reproduction in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement.  The institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to receive an article request?

In most cases, you will have your document within a day or two.  However, wait times may vary from a few days to several weeks depending on the requested article’s availability and the potential lenders.

Requests are typically processed by our staff within one business day. After we process it, we are relying on other libraries to fill that request according to their own policies and procedures.

If we can’t fill your request, you’ll receive an email with an explanation. If you haven’t received a cancellation notice, we are still trying to complete your request.

How long does it take to receive a loan request?

In most cases, you will have your requested item within a week.  However, wait times may vary from a few days to several weeks depending on the requested items availability and the potential lenders. 

Requests are typically processed by our staff within one business day. After we process it, we are relying on other libraries to fill that request according to their own policies and procedures.  Lending libraries use a variety of shipping methods that take variable amounts of time. 

If we can’t fill your request, you’ll receive an email with an explanation. If you haven’t received a cancellation notice, we are still trying to complete your request. 

What is the difference between a loan request and an article request?

If you’re looking for a pdf of a journal, magazine or newspaper article, those all fall under the category of article requests.  If you’d like the physical book, DVD, score, etc., those items fall under the category of a loan request. 

I received a cancellation notice due to copyright restrictions, what does that mean?

In accordance with U.S. Copyright Law, ILL is limited in the amount of a publication that can be requested as an article or scan.  Below are guidelines followed by our staff:

  • CONTU Guidelines include the 5/5/1 borrowing rule. This rule states that interlibrary loan requests for articles from a single journal title published fewer than five years before the date of the request cannot exceed five articles within a calendar year. Meaning, five patrons could request one article each, or one patron could request five articles, and in each case that would bring us to our limit of requests for that calendar year.
  • Rule of Two guidelines state that a library may request one article, per issue, per patron of a journal title. Any additional articles from that same issue of a journal would require copyright fees/paid access. Please let us know if more than one article from a single issue is required for your research and we will determine the best method of acquiring these for you.
  • Copies from books are limited to one chapter, or 10% of the work. If you require more than one chapter from a book, please request the item as a loan.
I received a cancellation notice due to copyright, but the other articles are particularly important to my research. What can I do?

Please resubmit your request indicating the importance of these articles to your work. We will check with subject liaisons and acquisitions specialists about options to acquire the material for you.

Who can use ILL?

Anyone with an active account with Ohio University Libraries can use interlibrary loan. You can place a request through Interlibrary Loan - ILLiad .

How long can I borrow materials loaned through ILL?

Due dates are determined by the lending library and vary from lender to lender.  If a borrowed item is needed longer, you can renew items through your ILL account, or email ill@ohio.edu and we will ask the lending library for a renewal on your behalf.

What can I request through ILL?

Articles, books, book chapters, dissertations, microfilm, scores, and films in physical formats are all regularly requested via ILL.

What is NOT available in ILL?

E-books and streaming video are not typically licensed for use in interlibrary loan.

I’d like a PDF of an article or book chapter and the journal is located at Alden Library. Is this possible?

Yes, this is possible through our Document Express service. Submit your request through your interlibrary loan account. If the article or book chapter is available at Alden, the Music and Dance Library, or the Library Annex, we will scan and deliver the pdf to your ILL account.

Do I have to pay anything?

You are only charged if the returned item is damaged after it is picked up, or if the item is lost/not returned.  The library covers lending fees and shipping charges.

Are there any time limits on articles/chapters requested fulfilled electronically?

You have 30 days to access your electronically delivered document.  We encourage ILL users to download received requests as soon as possible to avoid losing access and having to place a new request.  You may keep a downloaded electronic copy of your request as long as you need.

How can I check on the status of my request?

You can login to your ILL account to check the status of your requests, or email ill@ohio.edu at any time with questions about your request.

What items may be difficult to acquire through ILL?

Textbooks, new releases, rare/archival items, and reference books (dictionaries, manuals, etc.) may be difficult to find as a loan. 

While we do our best to find the resources you need, libraries may have certain materials in their collection but are non-circulating or on reserve and therefore unable to be borrowed through ILL. 

I’m not near the Athens campus, can I still use ILL?

Yes, you can submit requests and receive electronic document deliveries from anywhere.  

If you are a distance learner in need of physical items as loans, and not near an Ohio University campus , many public and university libraries have ILL options for community members.  

If interlibrary loan via a library near you is not an option, please contact ill@ohio.edu to review the terms and conditions for arranging home delivery prior to submitting your loan request.

Can students/faculty from regional campuses use ILL?

Yes. ILL is available to OU students and faculty on all our campuses. All requests are processed on the Athens Campus and distributed to your regional campus library.

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