Interlibrary Loan Borrowing FAQ
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a service which obtains materials that are not otherwise available through the University of Cincinnati libraries or OhioLINK. Materials necessary for study and research, such as books and dissertations, may be borrowed from other libraries. Photocopies of periodical articles may also be acquired. University of Cincinnati University Libraries follow the conditions of this service set by the National Interlibrary Loan Code (revised 2001, American Library Association).
How do I determine if I need to use ILL?
What is available through ILL?
What is not available through ILL?
Can I obtain dissertations through interlibrary loan?
How long can I keep borrowed material?
Eligible Users:
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The following patrons should contact their respective libraries regarding interlibrary loan service:
How do I determine if I need to use ILL?
Before you submit a request
What is available through ILL?
Books, theses, and some other materials, such as microform and audiovisual materials, may be borrowed. Photocopies of articles may be requested in accordance with the U.S. copyright law.
What is not available through ILL?
The following types of materials may not be borrowed through interlibrary loan: textbooks; archival material; rare, valuable, or fragile material; materials for reserve, group, or extended use.
Can I obtain dissertations through interlibrary loan?
Most dissertations are available through interlibrary loan and may arrive in print, microfilm, or microfiche. Please submit an interlibrary loan request for a dissertation that is not available online.
Proquest Dissertations and Theses includes full-text to over 800,000 dissertations from 1997 forward. The database includes also full-text to all UC dissertations published in electronic format. In addition, the database includes citations to dissertations from 1861-Present and Abstracts from 1980 forward. 350-word abstracts written by the author. Master's theses published from 1988 forward include 150-word abstracts.
United States - For information regarding Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) click here. If a requested U.S. dissertation is not available through interlibrary loan or available online we offer Dissertation Express as an option for you to obtain a copy. You may purchase a copy, through the Interlibrary Services Dept. staff, of a dissertation for $29, which is generally available in 4-5 days. Graduate works published prior to 1980 may take a few extra days. The dissertation is available in unbound, shrink-wrapped format only. The fee may be paid by VISA ®, Master Card ®, or a personal check. Credit card payment is preferred. Call 556-556-1461 and the request will be processed over the telephone.
Canada - Dissertations are available in microfiche and online and can be found be searching Theses Canada.
All other countries – Dissertations from other countries are available through the Center for Research Libraries Dissertations Collection. If the requested dissertation is not owned at the Center for Research Libraries, they will acquire a copy on our behalf. This process could take several months
Patrons may request materials using the library’s ILLiad system. Before placing a request, patrons must create a secure account by filling out a registration form and creating a user name and password (Click on the First Time Users link from ILLiad.) Patrons register once and store their personal information (phone, email, address, department, etc.) for use on all future requests. Once an ILLiad account is created, simply log in to place a request. ILLiad allows for the ability to track requests at all stages of the ILL process by logging in and reviewing your ILLiad record. As well as electronically making requests, you may also place renewal requests, revise citations and re-submit requests, and cancel requests electronically.
Materials arriving through interlibrary loan usually take 2-3 weeks to arrive. Complete and accurate information will expedite the process of searching, processing, and receiving the material. Articles may arrive faster as the majority are transmitted electronically.
When the material has been received, notification will be sent to the e-mail address in your user account. Books should be picked up promptly in order to make use of the entire loan period. Generally, photocopies of articles arrive electronically and are “delivered to the web”. You will receive e-mail notification indicating how to view the article online. To check the status of your interlibrary loan request, simply log into the ILLiad system and go to the Outstanding Requests section.
How long can I keep borrowed material?
The loan period is determined by the library lending the material and is usually three weeks. Due dates and any restrictions, such as LIBRARY USE ONLY, are indicated on the band that surrounds the material and must be adhered to.
One renewal for two additional weeks may be requested only if it is before the due date. Please log in to your ILLiad account to request a renewal. No renewals can be made for an item that is already overdue or if the lending library stipulated NO RENEWALS on the band that surrounds the material. Interlibrary loan items are subject to recall by the lending library and must be returned immediately upon recall.
The University Libraries absorbs all charges associated with normal levels of borrowing. The loan or photocopy of a single item may cost the libraries $20 or more. We ask that users be as judicious as possible in submitting requests. The user will be required to pay any charges levied by the supplying library for items lost, not returned, returned late, or damaged while in their care.
Contact staff in the Interlibrary Services Dept. at Langsam Library at 513-556-1461 or via e-mail at: illweb1@email.uc.edu.
