Search

Inter-Library Loan

Inter-library loan, or ILL, is a service enabling library patrons access to materials unavailable in their local library collection. Inter-library loan is available to St. Thomas University Law School faculty, students and staff. Alumni should inquire at their local public library. Main campus faculty, staff and students should contact the University Library for service.

Request procedure

Inter-library loan requests can be made in person at the Law Library Circulation Desk. Members of St. Thomas University Law Review are requested to make Law Review ILL requests through the Law Review office to avoid any duplication of requests. Please provide as much information as possible. Items in the St. Thomas Law Library collection are not available for Inter-library loan. Patrons are also encouraged to attempt to locate full text of journal articles online through the St. Thomas Law Library Electronic Journal Locator and University E-Research Area before making ILL requests. Please keep in mind that not all formats or items are available through the ILL service (see below for more information).

Materials requested through ILL can take up to eight weeks to arrive if available. It is recommended that all ILL requests are made as early as possible to allow sufficient time for materials to to be located, requested and received.

When materials are received, an email notice is sent to the patron. Items can be picked up at the circulation desk. Items requested by faculty will be delivered to the faculty member's mailbox. Books will have a strap or band or otherwise be marked with a due date. The item must be returned by the due date so that they can be sent back to the lending library. Patrons can keep any photocopies received from article requests. Please read the copyright guidelines on the photocopy request forms. Please remember that all due dates and restrictions on use are set by the lending library. Renewals or extensions may be available, but are at the sole discretion of the lending library.

NOTE: It is important that ILL books are returned on time to have continued services from other libraries. If a book(s) is not returned on time after first notification, any costs involved in the replacement of the items are passed onto the patrons for payment and may result in the suspension of borrowing privileges.

Non-circulating items

The following types of items are generally not available through inter-library loans:

  • Dictionaries, encyclopedias, manuals, directories and other reference materials
  • Periodicals and newspapers, although copies of individual articles may be available
  • Maps and atlases
  • Audio-visual materials
  • Rare books and manuscripts
  • Current publications
  • Microforms
  • Law school study aids and textbooks

Lending request policy

Lending requests are honored from other libraries for both loans and photocopies. The ILL staff will make every effort to fill all requests in a reasonable amount of time. Requests are accepted through OCLC, fax and ALA forms. Phone, e-mail and rush requests are allowed only on an individual basis. Books are generally loaned for a period of one month and can be renewed one time. Renewal requests must be made one week prior to the date due. Some formats do not circulate, including:

  • Audio-visual materials
  • Microforms
  • Newspapers and other periodicals
  • Reserve materials
  • Reference materials
  • Multi-volume sets
  • Looseleafs