Interlibrary Loan (ILL) enables patrons to obtain materials not owned by the GSU Library. ILL privileges are for current students, faculty and staff only. Patrons must have a valid GSU Photo ID and be entered in the GSU patron database before initiating a loan request. It is our policy to accept no more than 15 requests per day per individual.
Interlibrary Loan requests may be submitted using one of the following methods:
Books, dissertations, and photocopies of articles are the primary type of material ordered through ILL. Books cannot be borrowed to fill reference or reserve requirements for coursework. Books from libraries outside of the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI) cannot be borrowed by GSU students in lieu of purchasing a textbook. Photocopies of periodical articles must be requested in accordance with the copyright law. Other types of materials such as videos, theses, dissertations, newspapers on microfilm or rare books may be obtained by direct borrowing through I-Share, depending upon the loan policies of other libraries, but will not be ordered through Interlibrary Loan staff. Items that have a status of missing or charged from GSU Library stacks may also be requested.
There is no charge to GSU faculty, staff, and students for ILL services, unless there is a charge for filling the request exceeding the $10 limit and the patron agrees to pay the fee in advance.
Always make certain the material is not owned by the GSU library before submitting a request. Check the online catalog or periodical holdings list before ordering materials.
When requesting materials, please be aware that the time taken for material to arrive depends upon where we are attempting to obtain it, the processing time at our library and at the lending library, and the accuracy of the information provided on the request form. For faster service, accurate and complete bibliographic information must be supplied along with the source of the citation. Although patrons may receive some of their materials in a very short amount of time, it is wise to plan ahead and allow plenty of time. Typically, 10 days is needed to process in-state requests and receive them. Out-of-state requests may take as long as four weeks. When material arrives, the patron is notified by phone, email or mail. Books will be held at the Circulation Desk for pick up. Photocopies will be mailed unless specific arrangements are made to the contrary.
The loan period and renewal options are determined by the lending library, except for CARLI libraries where the consortium has made the determination. All materials borrowed through Interlibrary Loan must be returned to the GSU Library promptly. Late return of materials jeopardizes the ability of GSU to borrow from other libraries in the future. Please do not remove the book bands that identify the material as being loaned from another library. Photocopies may be kept by the requester.
To contact us:
Eric Nicholson, Coordinator of Interlibrary Loan Department
PHONE: (708) 235-7508
E-MAIL: enicholson@govst.edu
FAX: (708) 534-8454
OCLC: IAF
updated 2/27/13
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