Interlibrary Loan

Materials borrowed through ILL usually arrive within two weeks, but requests may take up to a month to be filled. If you need materials in less than two weeks, you should talk to a reference librarian about materials within the Denison/CONSORT/OhioLINK library system that may meet your needs.

The key to using ILL effectively is to plan ahead. Anticipate your borrowing needs and make your requests well before your project is due. If you are going to make many requests, it is better to space them out over a period of weeks so that they will not arrive and be due at the same time. You will be notified through campus e-mail or by a phone call when your materials arrive or if ILL cannot fill your request.

1. Before placing an ILL request, use the CONSORT library catalog and the OhioLINK catalog, as well as our Government Document Reference sources to make sure that our library, CONSORT, and OhioLINK do NOT own the item you are requesting. Consult the the Circulation (x5711), a Reference Librarian (x6682), or the Circulation Desk (x6235) if you are unsure about an item’s status.
2. Complete the online ILL request form. Each ILL request must be filled out accurately and completely or the procurement process will be delayed. When requesting a photocopied article from a periodical, remember to note the source of your information in the “Where Citation Found” box of the request form.
3. After submitting, you will receive verification that your request was sent. You may follow the “Request Another?” link if you have additional items to submit. You will be notified through e-mail or phone when your material arrives OR if ILL cannot fulfill your request. Upon notification, materials can be picked up at the Circulation Desk.

Photocopies are yours to keep. Average loan period is one month. Some restrictions, such as “IN LIBRARY USE ONLY” may apply. Any restrictions will be indicated on the bookband or bookmark.

The due date is posted on each Interlibrary Loan book. Please leave the band or label on the book as it contains important information to help us get the book back to the lending library. ILL books must be returned on or before the due date. If an item is recalled, return it to the Circulation Desk as soon as possible.

It is up to the owning (lending) institution to decide whether or not an item may be renewed. Some institutions offer renewal periods; others do not. If you need a book for a longer period of time, you should request a renewal as soon as possible. To do so, stop by, e-mail, or phone (x6235) the ILL Office. Only one renewal request per item is permitted.

Is there a charge for ILL?Denison makes every effort to borrow from institutions that do NOT charge for ILL services. At times, we have no choice but to request items from institutions that do charge. If the fees to obtain an item will be excessive, you will be contacted before your request is processed.

The Library’s future borrowing privileges from other libraries are jeopardized when Denison patrons do not return materials on time. Therefore, patrons who do not return items on time will be assessed an overdue fine on all past due ILL materials. Fines vary depending on the lending institution.

In the case of lost items, the patron will pay the replacement charge imposed by the lending institution. Questions regarding ILL fines should be brought to the attention of Pam Magelaner (x5711, magelaner@denison.edu).