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 College of Law faculty, students and staff. University main campus faculty, staff and students in non-law school programs should contact the University Library for service.

Request procedure

Request ILL

Request Guidlines

  • Items in the Law Library and University Library collections are not available via Inter-library loan to the St. Thomas community. Check the Law Library catalog and the University Library catalog before making any inter-library loan requests. Patrons are also encouraged to attempt to locate full text of journal articles online through the Digital Library and University Library Research page 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). Inquiries about specific items can also be made by emailing lawill@stu.edu. Please include all information requested on the ILL form in the email to avoid delays.
  • Materials requested through ILL can take up to eight (8) 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 be located, requested, and received.
  • When materials are received by the Library:
    • An email notice is sent to the patron and 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 prior to the due date so that it can be sent back to the lending library. Patrons may 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 granted at the sole discretion of the lending library. Please request any extensions or renewals before the due date.
    • 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 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 from other libraries, for both loans and photocopies, are honored. The ILL staff will make every effort to fill all requests in a reasonable amount of time. Requests are accepted via OCLC. Phone, e-mail, and rush requests are allowed only on an individual basis at the Library’s discretion. 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
  • Looseleaf Materials
  • Study aids
  • Certain Special Collections