Interlibrary Loan Frequently Asked Questions
What is Interlibrary Loan?
Interlibrary loan or “ ILL” is a cooperative service that libraries throughout the country have developed in order to share their collections by lending items to each other. It offers an easy way for you to obtain a book or journal article that you need, but that is not available at Memorial Library.
What kinds of material are/are not available through Interlibrary Loan ?
You may request items such as books, book chapters, and individual journal articles. We will accept requests for other kinds of materials such as conference proceedings, dissertations, and audiovisual items, but the number of libraries willing to lend these materials is smaller; therefore, our chances of successfully borrowing these materials for you are lower. In general, we do not accept ILL requests for textbooks.
How do I request an item using the ILL system?
You may submit your request using ILLiad, the new ILL software in place at Berry. A one-time, free registration process is the first step, but it’s easy! If you have any problems, don’t hesitate to contact the ILL office (ext. 4056) for a demo or quick tutorial. In-Depth ILLiad FAQ and Instructions
You do not have to know what library or libraries have the item you need. We’ll take care of that.
It is your responsibility, however, to check WebVoyage (for books) or the Journal Locator (for articles) to see if the item is available here before you submit an ILL request.
How long does it take for the items I’ve requested to arrive?
You should request the item(s) you need at least 2 weeks ahead of time.
We cannot promise items by a certain date because of many factors that are beyond our control, including mail services and the processing schedule at the lending library.
How will I know when my item arrives?
You will be notified by e-mail or by phone (a preference you will select when you register with ILLiad).
Where do I pick up my item(s)?
Pick up all physical items at the Circulation Desk in the front lobby of Memorial Library if you choose “hold for pick up” when you register with ILLiad. Documents arriving in an electronic-only format will be available on your virtual desktop. You can view or download electronic articles within 30 days after the article is posted by logging onto ILLiad.
How long can I keep an Interlibrary Loan item?
For all “returnables” such as books and DVD’s, this will vary according to the policies of the lending library. The due date will be visible on the front of the item.
Photocopies or facsimiles of journal articles are yours to keep.
Can I renew an ILL item?
You may request one renewal for an ILL item unless the item’s label specifies “no renewal”.
A renewal request can be submitted from 10 days before the due date to 5 days after the due date. The lending library will decide whether to allow a renewal.
To renew an item, please follow these steps
- Log into your ILLiad account and click on the "View/Renew Checked Out Items" on the left side navigation bar
- Click on the "Transaction Number" of the item you want to renew and a full record of the item will be displayed
- Click on the “Renew Request” button and a renewal request will be submitted
- You will receive an e-mail from ill@berry.edu about the decision and the new due date once the lending library answers the renewal request.
- When renewal is granted, please mark the new due date on the item label to keep track of your item
Please contact the ILL office at extension 4056 or ill@berry.edu if you have any questions.
How much does it cost to use the ILL service?
For Berry students, faculty, and staff, there is no charge for using ILL. Although library funds cover the costs involved with providing this service, these costs may be substantial for selected requests when postage, staff time, and borrowing fees imposed by some lending libraries are considered. Therefore, we encourage you to use this system as often as you need it, but only for items that are truly essential for your research or course work at Berry.