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Interlibrary Loan (ILL): Frequently
Asked Questions
About Interlibrary
Loan:
About MyILL:
What is interlibrary loan (ILL)?
Interlibrary loan, often referred to as ILL, is a service that
allows one library to borrow materials that are owned by another
library. It is intended to provide materials for scholarly research
and to supplement classroom learning.
What's the difference between I-Share
and WorldCat / Interlibrary Loan?
I-Share is a group of academic libraries in the state of Illinois,
of which IIT is a member. All members of I-Share use the same online
catalog system, so requesting materials from I-Share is fast and
direct. You can place your request in the
I-Share online catalog without assistance from library staff.
Materials requested through
WorldCat (a national system of more than 8000 libraries), or
interlibrary loan, are processed through MyILL.
How should I submit my interlibrary
loan requests?
Remember to always start your search for books or other circulating
items in the IIT
Library Catalog or the
I-Share catalog. Titles not found there can be searched and
requested using
WorldCat. Use the
Finding Books in WorldCat guide for assistance.
Looking for journal articles? Galvin Library may already have
access to the journal you need, either in print or online. Before
submitting an ILL request, search for journal articles using
Article Finder to see if Galvin Library has access to the journal
you want. Your ILL request will be denied if you are able to access
the journal article electronically or in print through Galvin Library.
Who can use interlibrary loan? Are
there charges for interlibrary loan?
Interlibrary loan services are available free to faculty, students,
and staff of the Illinois Institute of Technology. IIT alumni, with
their annual subscription, also have access to interlibrary loan
services. There are no charges for items returned on time and in
good condition. However, there are charges applied for overdue or
damaged items. Damage includes highlighting, writing, food/beverage
stains, torn pages or broken spines. Read more in Galvin Library’s
Interlibrary Loan
Policy.
What can I request through interlibrary
loan?
You may request most materials, except textbooks. Textbooks
cannot be borrowed through interlibrary loan. Please keep in
mind that while you may request materials, some items are difficult
to obtain. This includes, but is not limited to: software, audio/visual
materials, books published prior to 1900, dissertations, maps, reference
books, standardized tests and manuals.
How long will it take to receive my interlibrary
loan materials?
Books requested through interlibrary loan can take 5-14 days
to arrive, depending on availability and delivery methods. Articles
requested through ILL can arrive in 3-10 days, depending on whether
the file is received in an electronic format or photocopied and
mailed.
How will I know if my interlibrary loan
items have arrived?
You will receive an email when the items are available for pickup.
You can also track the status of an item using MyILL. If you have
not already created an account in MyILL, click
here.
How long may I keep interlibrary loan
materials?
Interlibrary loan items circulate according to the policy of
the owning library. Most loan periods are 3 weeks, and at the discretion
of the owning library, may be renewed one time. Interlibrary loan
materials are rarely circulated for an entire semester.
Where should I return interlibrary loan
items?
All interlibrary loan items should be returned to the Galvin
Library Circulation Desk.
How can I renew items or check due dates?
To check the status of interlibrary loan requests, log into MyILL
and click on the “Items Checked Out” option from the Main Menu.
If you have not already created an account in MyILL, click
here. Remember to also check
My Account in I-Share when monitoring due dates of IIT or I-Share
items.
I have borrowed an interlibrary loan
item and I am getting emails asking me to return the item. I still
need it, what should I do?
The owning library can recall an item at any time. When you receive
an email notifying you of a recall, the notification email will
have a specific date that you can return the item by without penalty.
If you do not return the item promptly, you can be subject to replacement
and processing fees determined by the lending institution, your
library borrowing privileges will be blocked, and in some cases
a hold will be placed on your IIT Student account. A hold placed
against your account will prevent registration and can prevent the
release of your diploma or transcripts. Return the item promptly
upon recall and place a new ILL request. For more information, please
refer to Galvin Library's
Interlibrary Loan
Policy.
What is MyILL?
MyILL is an online interface that allows you to access information
about your Interlibrary Loan requests. You are able to review your
current requests, view request history, retrieve the documents you
have requested, see what books you have checked out through Interlibrary
Loan, and more.
Why do I need a username and password
to use MyILL?
Your username and password allows us to give you secure access
to information about your interlibrary loan requests. We can also
enable you to edit your personal information such as your address
or phone number.
Your username is the same as your IIT email account. Do not include
"@iit.edu". If you don't know your email username, you can look
it up here. Your password is
the same as your IIT email account password. If you don't know your
email password, you should contact the
OTS Support Desk.
What if I forgot my password?
Click on the “Forgot your Password?” link on the MyILL
login page.
Is security a problem if I use
a public workstation?
Yes. Web browsers cache information and create a history file
on the local workstation. This allows a subsequent user of the workstation
to access the system under your name using the browser's Back button
to recall a page from the cache, or by finding a page with your
personal information in the browser's history file. If you are concerned
about the security of your interlibrary loan requests, you can take
the following steps:
- Access MyILL only from your personal computer or an otherwise
secure workstation.
- Access MyILL from a public workstation in the Interlibrary
Loan office in the library. These computers are supervised by
the library staff.
- When using a public access workstation:
- Delete from the history file those pages that contain
your personal information.
- Exit from the Web browser before you leave the workstation.
This prevents the Back button from accessing the pages you
were using.
Why don't I see all my older requests
when I look at my request history?
From time to time we purge older records from MyILL. Our policy
is to keep requests online for several years order to comply with
record keeping requirements of the copyright law.
Who do I contact if I have problems
with or questions about MyILL?
The Reference Desk can help you if you are unable to create an
account. Stop by the reference desk on the upper level of Galvin
Library, or go to the
Ask a Librarian
page. If you have a question about a request you have already submitted, or have a problem with your account, contact the ILL department directly at 312.567.6846 or iitmyillms@iit.edu
Why does my browser say that you're
sending a cookie? What's in it?
The technology that we use sends a Session ID to be stored on
your machine. You can refuse this cookie and still be able to use
MyILL without any problems.
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