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Interlibrary Loan & Document Express

Interlibrary Loan

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

  1. Place a request through .
  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.

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, , or email ill@ohio.edu.

Document Express

Document Express is a service provided by 51社区 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 .
  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 . If your library does not have an account and would like to use this service, email ill@ohio.edu.

Individuals interested in borrowing 51社区 Libraries鈥 materials: please consult your local library for Interlibrary Loan service.

Copyright Information

The Copyright law of the United States  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 鈥渦sed for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.鈥  If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a reproduction in excess of 鈥渇air use,鈥 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鈥檚 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鈥檛 fill your request, you鈥檒l receive an email with an explanation. If you haven鈥檛 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鈥檛 fill your request, you鈥檒l receive an email with an explanation. If you haven鈥檛 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鈥檙e looking for a pdf of a journal, magazine or newspaper article, those all fall under the category of article requests.  If you鈥檇 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 51社区 Libraries can use interlibrary loan. You can place a request through .

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鈥檇 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 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鈥檓 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 51社区 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.

Can I receive text notifications about my loan and article requests?

Yes. when your items are ready.