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Interlibrary loan (ILL) is a service Staley Library offers its patrons to augment the number of materials available for them to check out. It can be used to request delivery to Staley Library of books, articles, music scores, audio recordings, and video recordings not owned by Staley Library.
FAQ
Who may request interlibrary loan services?
How do I place interlibrary loan (ILL) requests?
How will I know when my request arrives?
What loan periods can I expect? How many renewals can I have?
Can I get my textbooks through interlibrary loan?
Can I get the latest bestseller I'm dying to read through ILL?
Can I put ILL books and videos on reserve for my class?
How do I contact the ILL department with questions?
Who may request interlibrary loan services?
We provide interlibrary loan services (ILL) for Millikin University students, faculty, staff, and administrators.
Persons not fitting into one of these categories should request ILL services through their own public or academic libraries.
How do I place interlibrary loan (ILL) requests?
I-Share is the online catalog used to request most books and other returnable items needed through Interlibrary Loan. These items can be requested directly by Millikin patrons, making this the quickest, easiest way to get books and other returnable items. The Worldcat online catalog acts as a backup resource for items not owned in I-Share.
ILLiad is the interlibrary loan management system used by Millikin. Any needed ILL item not found in I-Share, or articles not available at Millikin, should be requested using ILLiad. This system allows you to keep track of your requests and item due dates for loaned materials. Articles requested are made available electronically via pdf through your ILLiad account for 30 days. You will need to register your ILLiad account the first time you use it.
Items can be requested while searching the periodical databases and WorldCat found through the library homepage. To request items, click on the "Find It" button.
Requests for items found from a citation may be added manually through ILLiad; log in to ILLiad through myMillikin or using the ILLiad button on the library's homepage. Then fill in a form for the article, book, or other item under "Create New Request."
*For more details on the interlibrary loan process, please see the other tabs of this guide.
How long will it take?
The average time it takes to receive an article is 2 days, but it could be as fast as a few hours or as slow as 2-3 weeks, depending on the scarcity of the item and response times of the loaning library.
Returnable items requested through the I-Share catalog take an average of 4 business days, but could arrive as fast as 2 days or as slow as 2 weeks.
Returnable items requested through ILLiad/WorldCat take an average of 8 days, but could be as fast as 3 days or as slow as 3 weeks.
These speeds depend on the availability of the item and where the item is located (it takes returnable items longer to arrive from California than from Chicago).
How will I know when my request arrives?
You will be notified through your Millikin e-mail.
Returnable items must be picked up at the Staley Library Circulation desk.
Article requests will be sent to your ILLiad account electronically. They are available for 30 days to print, download, etc.
What will it cost?
Usually nothing. We always attempt to find libraries that lend at no cost, and most of the time we are successful. However, any costs incurred by our library will be passed on to you. You will be notified before any ILL with an associated cost is made for you.
What loan periods can I expect? How many renewals can I have?
Loan periods and renewal policies for items borrowed through the I-Share catalog are summarized on this CARLI website. I-Share renewals can be requested online, though your I-Share account.
Items borrowed through ILLiad will vary in their loan periods and renewal policies, as determined by the owning library.
ILLiad renewals should be requested through our interlibrary loan department, please email ill@millikin.edu or call 217-424-3560 and provide as much detail as possible, including your name, the title of the item you wish to renew, and the original due date.
Failure to return items by the due date may result in charges and/or the loss of ILLiad borrowing privileges.
Can I get my textbooks through interlibrary loan?
We understand that textbooks are expensive. However, you cannot rely on ILL to replace textbook purchases for several reasons:
If your textbook is prohibitively expensive, please check with your professor to ask whether they will be placing a copy on reserve for the course in the library.
Can I get the latest bestseller I'm dying to read through ILL?
New items, especially bestsellers, may not be immediately available through interlibrary loan because libraries need time to acquire and process materials. Also, many libraries have policies which limit the use of new materials to their own patrons only and there may be a lot of competition for the latest bestseller.
Can I put ILL books and videos on reserve for my class?
Sorry, items that have been requested and checked out to you through ILL, such as books and videos, may not be placed on reserve (in accordance with the Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States Explanatory Supplement, section 4.4). Please contact your subject liaison to a request a purchase of the material for the library instead.
How do I contact the ILL department with questions?
If you have any questions or problems using I-Share or ILLiad, please contact Interlibrary Loan via phone at 217-424-3560 or via email at ill@millikin.edu or call the library at 217-424-6214.
Staley Library is a member of the OCLC Express digital delivery program, which connects high-performing libraries to form a select group committed to delivering digital resources within 18 hours or less.