Interlibrary Loan: Borrowing from other Libraries
Get the submit form to: |
• order a journal article |
• order a book or other media |
- What is Interlibrary Loan (ILL)?
- Who may use this service?
- How do I request materials through Interlibrary Loan?
* From the library web site
* In MNPALS Union catalog
* In MnLink
* In WorldCat - What can I borrow through ILL?
- How long will it take to get my article or book?
- How will I know when my requests arrive at St. Mary’s campus?
- When are books due back?
- How can I check the status of my ILL request?
- How can I request a renewal?
- What ILL services are available to distance graduate students?
- Whom do I call for more information?
What is Interlibrary Loan (ILL)?
Interlibrary Loan Service is a resource sharing system. It provides a Fitzgerald Library user with access to the collections of other cooperating libraries. This service includes the loaning of books or audio-visual materials and journal articles. To use the ILL service, you must have a valid SMU identification card.
Who may use this service?
All St. Mary's University faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students holding a valid SMU identification card. This service is not available to holders of guest cards.
How do I request materials through Interlibrary Loan?
Before you order a journal article through interlibrary loan please use "Journal Finder" to check to see if the article is available in full text in one of St.Mary's online databases or in print. For books or AV materials check our MnPALS Fitz Catalog to be sure we do not own the title. If our library does not have the item you need, you may request an interlibrary loan in several different ways:
- Blank Form: Use the Interlibrary Loan Request Form: order a journal, order a book. You will be asked to log in to MnPALS to bring up the form. Fill in as much information as you can about the item you need (author, title, edition, date, etc.). All starred boxes must be filled in before the request can be submitted. The UserID/Barcode is your St. Mary's ID # (2350000.......) and your password is your last name or the first eight letters of your last name. The "Date not Needed After" box must be filled in exactly as shown in the example--dd/mm/yyyy (e.g. 05/15/2006).
- MnPALS Catalog: The MnPALS Union catalog searches the catalogs of a variety of colleges and universities including St. Cloud State, Mankato, St. John's, Winona, Concordia, and Gustavus. Use the " ILL Request" button to send interlibrary loan requests (you must hit the "ILL Request" button twice to bring up the form).
- MnLINK: The MnLINK catalog searches all the libraries in Minnesota including the University of Minnesota and public libraries. Use the "Get IT" button to request an Interlibrary Loan. You will be asked to sign in with your St. Mary's ID/Barcode and your pin/password, which is your last name. Your library location will be MnPALS. Open the request form and hit "Submit."
- WorldCAT: WorldCAT searches libraries worldwide. The best way to request a loan from this catalog is to e-mail (subject "ILL") the record of the book you need to Rachel Thomas, our interlibrary loan librarian ( rethomas@smumn.edu). Please include your ID number and the date after which the item will no longer be useful to you.
What can I borrow through ILL?
You may request Interlibrary Loan service if the Fitzgerald Library does not own the item you need. Books, copies of articles in journals or magazines, government documents, conference proceedings, videos, and some dissertations and theses typically are available. But, since each library sets its own policy about what it will lend, some limitations may apply. Many libraries do not lend videos or DVDs. Dissertations and theses may also be subject to restrictions, as may be the case with rare or fragile materials.
Items found in our library catalog, which are owned by the Graduate Library at St Mary's University campus in Minneapolis, are available for interlibrary loan.
If you request a journal article that is available in full text in a database on the Fitzgerald Library web site or in the library's print collection, the request will be sent back to you with information about how to retrieve the article.
How long will it take to get my article or book?
Most requests arrive within 1-3 weeks depending on the location of the lending library and the nature of the request. Copies of journal articles may arrive within a few days. ILL staff will process your request as soon as received, but be sure to allow enough time in your "need by" date for another library to be located and for the request to be processed and delivered. We will continue to try to fill your request until your "need by" date, so please give us as much time as you have available.
How will I know when my request has arrived?
When your request comes into the library you will receive a notification by e-mail. Requests will be held for you at the Circulation Desk. You will need to present your St. Mary's ID card to check books or AV materials out; journal articles will be copies that you may keep. Some journal articles may be e-mailed to you directly. You will have access to these articles for 7 days, after which time the access password will expire.
When are ILL items due back?
Lending libraries determine due dates for the materials they lend. Most loan periods are about 3 weeks. Due dates are indicated on the purple bookmark that will accompany your request and online in the MnPALS catalog in "Your Borrowing Record."
How can I check the status of my ILL request?
Log on to "Your Borrowing Record" in the MnPALS catalog and click on "ILL Request."
How can I request a renewal?
You may request a renewal by sending an e-mail to Rachel Thomas (rethomas@smumn.edu). However, loan periods and renewal decisions are made by the lending library. While many libraries grant renewals, some do not.
What ILL services are available to distance graduate students?
Fitzgerald Library provides limited ILL services to St. Mary's University students who are enrolled as distance graduate students. Journal articles, which are requested by distance students, will be mailed directly to the student. Books will be ordered for distance students only if they live close enough to pick up and return the books at the Fitzgerald Library. Other distance students are asked to use the interlibrary loan services of their local libraries to obtain books.
Whom do I call for more information?
Rachel Thomas
Interlibrary Loan Librarian
(507) 457 1489
rethomas@smumn.edu