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Interlibrary Loan - FAQ

Contact

ILL Office: (210) 458-4891, ill@liblist.lib.utsa.edu

Reference: JPL (210) 458-4573, DT (210) 458-2440, Ask a Librarian

Frequently Asked Questions:

Costs?

• Does it cost for faculty, staff, retirees, or students to use ILL service?
  
• Do UTSA alumni and Friends have to pay for ILL services?
  
• Do I have to pay fines on late ILL books?
  
• If I don't pick up or use the materials, do I have to pay?
  
• What happens if I request a photocopy of a journal article that is in the UTSA Library?
  

How long...?

• How long does it take to obtain materials?
  
• May I submit a "rush" request?
  
• Will I be notified when my ILL item has arrived?
  
• How long may I keep ILL books?
  
• May students request and use ILL books during the semester break?
  

What...?

• What may be requested through ILL?
  
• May I request theses and dissertations from other universities?
  
• What material is usually not loaned through ILL?
  

How do I...?

• How do I request an interlibrary loan?
  
• What information do I need to request a book or a journal article?
  
• What information do I need to request a copy of journal article?
  
• Is there a limit to how many ILL items I can request?
  
• Where do I pick up or return ILL materials?
  

Other restrictions...?

• Are there any other policy guidelines concerning ILL?
  

Costs?

Q: Does it cost for faculty, staff, retirees, or students to use ILL service?
A: ILL services are free for UTSA faculty, staff, retirees, and students.

Q: Do UTSA alumni and Friends of the Library have to pay to use ILL?
A: There is a processing fee of $5.00 per request for books or journal articles. Alumni & Friends of the Library are responsible for any additional costs that are charged by the lending library. Alumni must be active members of the Alumni Association. For information about becoming a Friend of the Library, see Friends of the UTSA Library/Alumni.

Q: Do I have to pay fines on late ILL books?
A: Yes, fines are charged for late return of materials obtained through interlibrary loan and are the same as for other library materials. See Library Fines for the current fines structure. The lending institution may impose additional fines upon the borrower. Overdue items must be returned and fines paid before another request will be processed. Suspension or termination of the patron's borrowing privileges will result if a patron repeatedly fails to abide by due dates for ILL materials.

Q: If I don't pick up or use the materials, do I have to pay?
A: If any charges occur, patrons are responsible for all charges. If not paid, the charges will be placed in the patron’s record resulting in blocking the privilege of using ILL.

Q: What happens if I request a photocopy of a journal article that is in the UTSA Library?
A: The article will be electronically delivered in PDF format to your ILLiad account.

How long...?

Q: How long does it take to obtain materials?
A: Requests may be filled in 3 to 14, depending on the type of material, its availability and the time of the semester. Please make requests as early as possible and state the date after which the material is no longer needed. ILL requests are processed and sent as quickly as possible, however, interlibrary loan office schedules vary from place to place. Some do not process any materials over holidays. You will be notified if your deadline cannot be met. If you registered ILLiad, you are able to view the status of your request online.

Q: May I submit a "rush" request?
A: Yes, and be sure to indicate the date after which you no longer need the material. We will try to obtain your material by that date, but cannot guarantee results. Please provide both an email address and a phone number that is answered during the day.

Q: Will I be notified when my ILL item has arrived?
A: Yes, you will be notified in the manner in which you requested (email/phone). If the material has not been picked up by the due date, the material will be returned.

Q: How long may I keep ILL books?
A: From the day that the book is received and processed at the Library, you have thirty (30) days to pick up, use and return the book. There are no renewals on books borrowed through ILL. If you wish, you may place another request about 10 days before the due date and ILL will borrow another copy for you. You must return the first book on time.

Q: May students request and use ILL books during the semester break?
A: Yes, if you are enrolled for the next semester.

What...?

Q: What may be requested through ILL?
A: You may request materials in any format you need -- microfilm, books, photocopies of journal articles, conference proceedings, theses, and dissertations.

Q: May I request theses and dissertations from other universities?
A: Master's theses and some dissertations are available for loan from most libraries. Many libraries will not lend post-1957 dissertations. Interlibrary loan will try to borrow these materials, but may not be successful. Doctoral dissertations from foreign institutions may be available by interlibrary loan through the Center for Research Libraries. No, if the item requested is not readily available, the title will be submitted to the Collections & Assessment Department for possible purchase. You will be notified about the status of your request. Please allow 4-6 weeks if it is purchased.

Q: What material is usually not loaned through ILL?
A: Materials not readily available include reference books, newspapers, textbooks for classroom use, rare books, manuscripts, audiovisual materials and software, bound journals and current journals. Conditions for interlibrary lending are set by the National Interlibrary Loan Code of the American Library Association and by individual libraries. Some libraries will not lend certain types of materials, making them difficult to obtain on loan.

ILL will not request textbooks for graduate or undergraduate students, that are either required or recommended for courses taught at UTSA or another institution. Requests for textbooks will be returned to the requestor. New or used textbooks are generally available for purchase from a number of sources.

How do I...?

Q: How do I request an interlibrary loan?
A: ILL online form is now available with ILLiad.

Q: What information do I need to have in order to request a book or a journal article?
A: The book title must be given along with the author or editor, publisher, place of publication, edition, and/or the date of publication that can be used. For copies of book chapters, in addition to the above, the chapter title is required and the page number(s) of the chapter. A full citation is required including the title of the journal, volume, issue, date, the author's name, title of the article and the page numbers.

Q: Is there a limit to how many ILL items I can request?
A: Multiple requests for various items may be turned in at one time. The patron should indicate the items needed first by the ‘no longer needed by date’ or other comment. If you have further questions, please contact our office by email ill@liblist.lib.utsa.edu or by phone 210-458-4891.

Q: Where do I pick up or return ILL materials?
A: Faculty/Staff ILL items will be delivered to their department. All others will be available for pickup at the Circulation Desk (John Peace Library or UTSA Downtown Library) depending on the designated location you have selected. ILL items must be returned to the Circulation Desk at either Library. Please do not return ILL books or media material in the book drop.

Other restrictions...?

Q: Are there any other policy guidelines concerning interlibrary services?
A: Just one or two comments.

• ILL requests will be processed only for patrons in good standing with the UTSA Library.
• The ILL borrower must abide by the terms set by the lending library.
• The Interlibrary loan office monitors the Library's compliance with copyright clearance requirements and with consortial agreements related to ILL and courier services.