Interlibrary Loan: General Information

The Interlibrary Loan department will obtain books, scores, journal articles and other materials not owned by the Ithaca College Library. This service is available to Ithaca College faculty, administrators, staff and students only. Due dates for interlibrary loan materials vary and are assigned by the library that loans the material to our library. Requests are processed Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, except when the library is closed due to holidays or breaks.

Below are some frequently asked questions about Interlibrary Loan.

Blocked account?

Contact us: borrowing@ithaca.edu or (607) 274-3891

Borrowers: Who may request items through Interlibrary Loan (ILL)?

• This service available to Ithaca College faculty, retired faculty, staff, and students
• Alumni and Ithaca College Affiliate borrowers must request ILL items through their public library

Borrowing: What is available through ILL?

• Books, scores & journal articles for academic or professional research
• Audiovisual materials (CDs, DVDs, videos, etc.), however, these may be difficult to obtain as most libraries do not loan these items

Borrower responsibilities: What are the responsibilities of the borrower?

• The borrower who requests an item is responsible for checking-out and returning, or renewing, an item on or before the due date
• The borrower is responsible for all charges resulting from returning an item overdue, and from damage to or loss of ILL materials

Check-out: Where do I pick up my ILL materials?

• All articles are delivered in PDF format via an e-mail link
• Books and other materials on loan can be checked-out at the library's Circulation desk located on the main floor of the Library. They can be checked out any time the library is open. You will need your Ithaca College ID to check them out.

Contact: I have a question about ILL, whom do I contact?

• E-mail: borrowing@ithaca.edu
• Phone: (607) 274-3891

Cornell: Do you get books/articles from Cornell?

Though Cornell is nearby, they receive a large number of requests which means that it may take a while for them to process ILL requests. The ILL staff knows which lending libraries have the best turn-around times.

Cost: How much does it cost to use ILL?

ILL is a service provided at no charge.

Due dates: How long can I keep ILL materials?

• Articles are posted to your ILL account for 45 days and do not need to be returned
• Due dates for materials on loan vary and are assigned by the lending library. The due date is on the book strap of the item. Items not renewed or returned by their due dates may accrue overdue fines at a rate of $5/day.
• ILL items may be recalled at any time by the lending library

Fines: What are the fines for ILL materials?

• Overdue fines for students are $5 a day with a maximum fine of $50. Fines are $5 per day to strongly encourage the expedited return of borrowed materials and to maintain our positive relations with lending libraries.
• There is a $10 processing fee if the book strap is not returned with the book. Book straps contain important documentation that is needed to process and return ILL materials to the lending libraries.
• After an item is 14 days overdue, it will be updated as "lost" in the library system. Patrons will be charged for the replacement cost of their items(s) as determined by the lending library and their ILL privileges will be blocked until the item has been returned, or the replacement cost paid.

First-time users: How do I get started?

Your log-in information is your Ithaca College Netpass user name and password. One you log in, a registration page will appear where you fill out your contact information. After submitting the form, the Main Menu will appear and you will be able to request materials.

Notices: When do I receive notices?

• When your ILL material arrives, notification will be sent to you Ithaca College e-mail account
• You will receive a courtesy notice 3 days before an item is due. The due date can also be found on the book strap or by logging into your ILL account.
• When your ILL is overdue, you will receive a notice--however, if the library is closed, you will not receive these, but the item is still due.

Quantity: How many items can I request?

• You may place any number of requests at one time; however ILL will only process up to 5 item requests per patron per day during peak times of the semester.
• We cannot order multiple copies of a single title for classroom use nor can we order ILL materials for placement on reserve.
• There is a limit of 15 ILL items at a time for undergraduate students; there is no limit for ILL items for faculty/staff/graduate students.

Research help:

If you need help with research, or you don't have enough time to request ILL materials, check with a librarian at the Research Help Desk to see if alternative resources are available in the IC Library.

Textbooks: Can I borrow textbooks through ILL?

ILL cannot be used to borrow required course textbooks. Please check the IC Bookstore.

Turn-around time: How long will it take to receive ILL materials?

• Requests are processed Monday through Friday between 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, except when the library is closed during holidays or breaks.
• Most articles arrive within 3 business days, however they may take longer if we have difficulty finding a lending library
• Most items take anywhere for 3 days to 2 weeks, depending on the lending library