What is Interlibrary loan (ILL)?
Interlibrary loan (ILL) is a resource share service. Participating libraries within the ILL community provide patrons with the ability to access materials which may not be a part of their current collection. ILL, in essence, grants an opportunity to borrow resources from other libraries.
Who can use our ILL services?
Library offers ILL services to the following patrons:
- Southwest Students (Active)
- Southwest Faculty (Current & Emeritus)
- Southwest Staff (Current)
- Southwest Alumni
How does ILL work?
The process begins with a patron's request at their home library. The home library acts as an intermediary. As the liaison, they identify other libraries with the desired item, places the request, receive the item, makes it available to the user, and also arrange for its return. Due dates and overdue fees for the borrowed material are set by the lending library.
How much does it cost?
Interlibrary loan is a free service offered to eligible Library patrons. ILL requests are fulfilled by the Library obtaining requested research resources through the ILL community. There are no associated fees for seeking to obtain these items on the patron's behalf. However, in extremely rare circumstance lending libraries may impose a nominal fee. If this happens patrons will be contacted to verify if they agree to payment prior to library proceeding to filling the request.
How to use ILL?
ILL - Step 1
Begin your search in Seeker at the library home page - https://ssw.edu/academics/harrison-library/
Type in your search word or phrase in the search box. In this example the patron is searching for - Augustine's theology of the New Testament.
Click the "search" button to begin your search.
ILL - Step 2
After clicking the search button you will be taken to a search results page like this one. It displays a list of results based upon your entry.
You may navigate through your results by:
- scrolling up and down the page - or -
- locate at the bottom of the current list - "Page: 1, 2, 3,..Next" - clicking on the page number or next will allow you to proceed to other search result pages
ILL - Step 3
If your desired item is not a part of the Booher Library collection you will see this statement which we have circled in red above. This indicates the item has to be obtained through interlibrary loan (ILL).
Click on the statement.
Note: We recommend doing further research to make sure the item is not part of our collection or cannot be located elsewhere on the internet.
ILL - Step 4
After clicking on the statement "Request this item - for use by current faculty, staff, students, & alumni only" you will be taken to the request form.
Fill out the required fields of the form. Click the submit button at the bottom. The request will be sent to the interlibrary loan department to locate a copy of the resource.
Where do I pick-up and return?
- Access Services desk
- Book drop - located by the front door of the library
Digital items (articles, chapter copies):
Patrons will receive an email with a copy of the document attached to the email.