First Time Users
First Time Users
If you haven't used Interlibrary Loan at St. Edward's University before, you'll need to create an account through our First Time Users page.
Contact Information
Interlibrary Loan can be reached via e-mail at illhelp@stedwards.edu or by phone at (512) 448-8738.
Frequently Asked Questions
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is the service of borrowing books, journal articles, and other materials from other libraries that are not available in the Scarborough-Phillips Library collection. Ask a librarian to find out whether ILL is the most appropriate option for your research needs.
ILL is available to all faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students at St. Edward's University. Other patrons may contact their public library for interlibrary loan service.
How long will it take to get things?
Requests are processed in the order in which they are received. If your ILLiad request form lacks complete or correct information, the request may be delayed or cancelled. If you request more than 10 items in one day, we will process them over a period of days so that all ILLiad users are served in a timely manner.
Most books usually arrive within ten working days. Items requested from Texas libraries and delivered via the TexPress courier service may arrive in less than ten working days. Photocopies may take as little as five days to arrive. However, factors beyond our control (availability of the item, efficiency of the lending loan department, speed of transit) ultimately determine when/if the material arrives to our library. In addition, items that are very recently published, unusual, or in a format other than a book or photocopy may take longer or may be unfilled altogether. Be sure to include your deadline on the request forms. ILL staff will try to meet your deadline and will keep you informed of any delays. You may check the status of your request through ILLiad by logging into your account and clicking on "View Outstanding Requests."
Where do I pick up my items when they arrive?
Books may be picked up at the Library Services Desk of the Scarborough-Phillips Library any time the library is open. Check the library calendar or call 448-8469 to hear a recording of library hours. Most journal articles are delivered electronically to your ILLiad account. Please contact the ILL Department if you have any questions regarding electronic delivery.
What can I request?
Almost all types of materials may be requested through Interlibrary Loan. However, certain materials are restricted or not readily available. These include: books published in the current year; dissertations; video and audio materials; microforms; periodicals (entire volumes or issues); reference or reserve materials; and rare books and manuscripts.
An item owned by the SEU library may not be requested through interlibrary loan. Requests cannot be made for items that are currently checked out or on-order. No user may have more than 20 active requests.
How long can I keep my items? Can I renew them?
Because ILL books are owned by other libraries, the lending library determines the due date. This date will vary according to the policy of the lending library. We can sometimes request one single renewal of no more than two weeks. The lending library decides whether or not to allow the renewal.
You may request a renewal by logging into ILLiad and clicking "Checked Out Items" or by emailing illhelp@stedwards.edu at least three days in advance of the due date. You will be notified of the lending library's response either by phone or email. Some items may not be renewed: items marked "No Renewal"; items that have already been renewed once; and overdue items.
How much is the late fee for Interlibrary Loan items?
Interlibrary Loan materials returned after the due date will result in an overdue fine of $1 per day with no grace period.
What is ILLiad?
OCLC ILLiad is a model, implemented in software, of the interlibrary loan process.
Developed in the ILL Department at Virginia Tech, it is the only ILL product created as a result of ILL staff review of the entire ILL operation. The result is a superior product which encompasses every action in the ILL process, producing a highly efficient and effective work environment. This environment enhances customer service while significantly reducing costs and staff workload.
Important Copyright Information
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials.
Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research". If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use", that user may be liable for copyright infringement.
This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.