Interlibrary Loan

Answers to Your Questions About Interlibrary Loan

Q: How do I place an ILL request?  
A: Place your request through the InterLibrary Loan program, ILLiad.

Q: How long does usually take to obtain the items I have requested through ILL? 
A: Our average turnaround time is 3-4 days. (Please be aware that this is an average, and that your ILL materials may arrive in a shorter, or longer period of time). Journal articles normally arrive faster than books.

If you need the material right away, and can't wait for ILL, we suggest the following: try this link to local area library online catalogs. If you find that the item is held by another library, you may then go to the Circulation Desk (in our Library) to obtain a special library card (DAP card) that will allow you to borrow from other libraries in the Capital District.

Q: Does it cost money to request materials through ILL? 
A: Generally, No. We do our best to obtain the items you request for free, and most items are obtained at no charge. We are able to do this because we have reciprocal agreements with hundreds of other libraries around the country, and some in other countries.

While the Neil Hellman Library has reciprocal borrowing agreements with many libraries, occasionally we can only obtain materials for a fee. We will contact you if we need to limit your requests, or if we can't obtain them for free. We would never charge you a fee without your permission. Contact Katherine Moss, Access Services Librarian, if you have questions.

Another option: you may want to look at the holdings of other local libraries, to see if they own the item/s you are looking for. Generally you may go to another library and photocopy journal articles, even if you are not a member of that library. You may also borrow from some other local libraries with a DAP card -- available for free at the Circulation Desk of our Library.

Q: How will I know when the materials I have requested have arrived? 
We will contact you when the materials come in by your Saint Rose email address. You may pick up your requested items at the Circulation Desk anytime during Library hours. In some cases, your material may come in electronic format, and you will be directed to login to your ILLiad account and obtain these electronic documents by clicking on the "view/download electronically recieved articles" button in ILLiad.

Q: Can I renew a book that I have borrowed through ILL? 
Yes. If your ILL book is not overdue yet, you may renew it online, if the lending library allows it. Login to ILLiad and you will see a button that says "view/renew checked out items". Most libraries will allow one renewal. Once you have placed a renewal request, you may assume that your book is renewed for 3 weeks, UNLESS we contact you and tell you to bring it back. 

Please note that you will not be able to place a renewal request once the book is overdue, so please plan ahead.

Please remember that materials borrowed through interlibrary loan do not belong to us. That means that the lending library may choose to ask for the material back at any time. If this happens, we can try to get the book for you from another lender. If you keep the material after the other library has asked that it be returned, you may be jeopardizing our good relationship with that library, and future student's abilities to borrow from that library.

Do you have any other questions, comments or suggestions about ILL? You may ask for help at the Reference Desk; or call the ILL Librarian: Kate Moss at (518) 454-2154. You may also email Kate. We welcome your thoughts about our ILL service!