Interlibrary Loan
What is Interlibrary Loan (ILL)?Interlibrary Loan is a service whereby materials (books and journal articles) not owned by Link Library can be borrowed from another library. The conditions of this service are set by the ILL code of the American Library Association, the State of Nebraska and the regulations of each lending library.
Who may use ILL services?
Students, faculty and staff may request items not contained in the Link collection through ILL provided they have a current ID card. Patrons not associated with Concordia University are asked to contact their local public library for this service.
How are ILL service requests made?
There are several different ways to make a request.
- Through Concordia: You may use the online ILL request form below (at the end of this section) or you can complete paper ILL request forms. Paper ILL forms are available at the Circulation and the Information Services Desks. One form should be completed for each book or journal article desired.
- The First Search Databases: If you use one of the First Search Databases, such as WorldCat (a catalog of books, journal titles, or other library material world wide), or ArticleFirst (an index of journal articles), you can make an electronic request. On the left hand side near the top of the entry is a section for "Availability" and the last entry in that section has the words Borrow this item from another library which is a hot link to an electroni ILL form.
- There is also a button for an e-form located in the upper left header. It looks like the following image with "ILL" underneath it:
The FirstSearch databases which have this capability are: ArticleFirst, ERIC, GPO Monthly Catalog, Medline, PapersFirst, ProceedingsFirst, Union List of Serials, World Almanac, and WorldCat.
- The EBSCO Databases: If you use one of the EBSCO Databases, such as Academic Search Premier, you will find a hotlink to the ILL form located below the article. For example:
1. Orthogonal parallel processing in vector Pascal. By: Cockshott, Paul; Michaelson, Greg. Computer Languages, Systems & Structures, Apr2006, Vol. 32 Issue 1, p2-41, 40p; DOI: 10.1016/j.cl.2004.07.001; (AN 18020785) Notes: Link Library does not subscribe to this title.
ILL request
The EBSCO databases which have this capability are: Academic Search Premier, ATLASPlus, Communication & Mass Media Complete, and SportDiscus.
What are the costs?Link Library assesses a nominal processing fee of 25 cents per request, payable when an item is picked up. While priority is given to borrowing materials from libraries that do not charge, occasionally an extra charge is involved, which is passed on to the patron. Please indicate on the form the maximum you are willing to pay when additional charges become an issue. In addition, be aware that fines are assessed on overdue ILL books, and replacement costs charged when books are lost.
How long does it take?
Even though articles might come the day you order them and books within one week; there is no guarantee. It is advisable to allow at least a week for articles and two for books; however, it could take longer. It is a good idea to specify a deadline date. If that deadline cannot be met by the lending library you will be notified.
How will I know when my material has arrived?
You will be informed via phone or e-mail when material has arrived. Please pick up requested material promptly, or notify the library when such material is no longer needed.
Are there any restrictions?
Generally libraries do not loan multivolume sets, textbooks for classroom use, audio-visual materials, reference materials and entire issues of periodicals. In addition, the Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. To remain in compliance with this law, no library or archives may request more than five articles annually from a given periodical published within the previous five years. However, we may be able to exceed this limit by referring you directly to the lending library. Link Library reserves the right to refuse a copying request if, in our judgment, fulfillment of the request would violate copyright law.