Frequently asked questions about interlibrary loan (ILL)
You may request Interlibrary Loan service when the book you need is not available from the CSU Libraries, or when the article you need is not available from WCSU. Before requesting an Interlibrary Loan, please discuss your information needs with the librarian at the Reference Desk. We may be able to find other items which are currently available that may satisfy your information needs.
If the CONSULS online catalog indicates that the item you need is available at one of the other CSU Libraries (CCSU, ECSU, or SCSU), you may request it electronically via Inter-Campus Loan by using the "Request" command at the full record display. You will be prompted to type your last name, student id , and library pin.
WCSU students, faculty, and staff may use interlibrary loan service. Members of the public may use the CONSULS online catalog and other WCSU library resources on-site, but must use the interlibrary loan services of their public library.
You must submit Interlibrary Loan requests electronically at the following address http://illiad.wcsu.edu/illiad/logon.html
The WCSU Libraries will make every effort to fill requests for all
types of material. However, most libraries will not lend
the following types of items:
Government documents, dissertations, theses, microfilm, and microfiche may also be difficult to borrow from libraries outside the CSU system. Interlibrary Loan service is also subject to copyright restrictions.
Under normal circumstances, most Interlibrary Loan requests are
sent by our staff to the lending library within 24 hours of
receiving them. However, during periods of heavy demand,
processing may take longer.
After a request is sent, it normally takes 1-2 weeks for an item to
be delivered. Occasionally, Interlibrary Loan takes longer than 2
weeks, so please be sure to get an early start and allow plenty of time for delivery. We cannot guarantee delivery within a specific period of time. You will be notified by mail or e-mail as soon as the material arrives. Items must be picked up at the Circulation Desk at either the Ruth Haas Library or the Robert S.
Young Business Library at the Westside Campus.
The loan period for books is established by the lending library and
may vary from 2-4 weeks. The due date is indicated on the yellow
paper band on the front cover. When a periodical article is
requested, the lending library sends a photocopy which the borrower
may keep. To maintain good relations with cooperating libraries,
books borrowed via Interlibrary Loan should be returned to the WCSU
circulation Desk on or before the due date.
Some lending libraries allow Interlibrary Loan materials to be renewed, others do not. Please call the Interlibrary Loan Desk at 203-837-9114 before an item is due to inquire about renewing it.
Interlibrary Loan usage is heaviest during the last half of each semester. During peak load, you may be asked to prioritize your requests. The library staff will process the first five requests received per person per day. Additional requests from the same person will be processed as time permits.
The majority of books and approximately 50% of periodical articles received through Interlibrary Loan are provided by the lending libraries free of cost, but sometimes an item is only available from a library that charges. When there is a fee, the person requesting the item is responsible for paying it. The cost may vary from $3.00 to $20.00 depending on the policy of the library which lends the item. On the Interlibrary Loan request form, please check off the maximum amount you are willing to pay if there is a fee for borrowing the item. The Interlibrary Loan Desk always tries first to get the item from a free source. When an item is not available free of charge, we use the least expensive source we can find.
With the use of new document delivery technology which allows us to receive article copies over the Internet, we are able to satisfy many requests in just two or three days of receipt of your order. There is no extra charge for this service.
For extreme "rush" situations which may involve commercial document suppliers or other delivery methods such as FAXing, please call the Interlibrary Loan Office at 203-837-9114 to discuss your needs. Substantial additional costs may be incurred which would have to be passed on to you.
To purchase a dissertation, you will need the order number from Dissertation Abstracts International, an online abstracting service accessible via OCLC FirstSearch, listed under Databases & Indexes on the WCSU Libraries Homepage. Please ask the librarian at the Reference Desk for assistance if necessary. The cost of a printed copy from Dissertation Express is $28.00.
