Interlibrary Loan FAQs | UConn Library

Getting Started

Requesting Items

Tracking Requests

Returning, Renewing, & Cloning Items

Who can use Interlibrary Services?

UConn faculty, staff, currently enrolled students, and visiting scholars with an active Library account, UConn NetID and UConn email address. No other email addresses are supported.

Create your ILLiad account

The first time you request an item through ILLiad, you will be asked to complete your profile.

Is there a charge to use the service?

Our goal is to support academic research, learning, and professional development, so there is no cost to you. We ask for your discretion when placing requests, because requests do come with a cost to the University.

What else should I know about borrowing?

Please leave bookband on your borrowed item so that we may identify it upon its return. We ask that you return your materials promptly, in the condition in which they were received. Please return or renew items by the due date.

How do I request an article or chapter?

Search for and request your item in UConn WorldCat, our catalog, or our subject databases. Choose “Request a PDF.”

Screenshot of Request a PDF button

You may also enter the information manually into the “Article” or “Book Chapter” forms in your My ILLiad account Log in and choose “Place Request” and choose your form. Please provide complete citation information to prevent any delays. You will be notified when your PDF is available, and it will remain accessible for 30 days. Please place requests for chapters individually.

How can I request an e-book?

You can request e-books by following the directions for print books. Note: not every print book has an e-book version, and e-books can be hard to obtain.

How can I borrow a book, DVD, VHS, CD, music score, or other material?

Search for and request your item in UConn WorldCat. WorldCat is a catalog of 1.5 billion items held at more than 15,000 libraries.
Find the item you want and choose "Request Item" under "Request from Libraries Worldwide":

screenshot of Request Item button

Where can I pick up my item?

Items may be picked up at the Storrs campus at either the Babbidge Library, Music & Dramatic Arts Library, or Pharmacy Library, or at any of our regional campus libraries at Avery Point, Hartford, Stamford, or Waterbury.

How can I change my pickup location?

Please contact us at udoc@uconn.edu and we will change your pickup location for you.

How will I know when my requested item is available?

You will receive an email notification to your UConn email address when your item is ready. Please do not contact lending libraries directly.

Can someone pick up my request for me?

Faculty and staff may allow students to check out materials on their behalf through registration as a Proxy Patron.

How long does it take to get something?

Most PDFs arrive in less than one day and most physical items come within 2-7 business days. Items that are difficult to obtain can take longer to arrive. To ensure a quick turnaround, please fill out as much of the citation as possible, including the ISSN/ISBN field. Altering the form’s citation fields to indicate “rush” will slow it down.

What kinds of things may I request?

Requests may be made for many kinds of resources, including print and e-books, articles, chapters, standards, proceedings, scores, DVDs, CDs, and more.

Is there a limit to how many things I can request?

There are no limits to requests; however, we reserve the right to limit how many we process per day. Large numbers of requests may be processed over several days.

Are there materials that aren't available through Interlibrary Services?

Materials that are generally not available through this service include: reference materials, unpublished manuscripts, rare, older, or fragile materials, entire issues or volumes of journals, educational kits, psychological tests, and genealogical materials. Some materials are difficult to obtain but we will do our best to find them.

What are the Interlibrary Loan usage Guidelines?

ILLiad materials are for your personal use only, are not transferable, and may not be used for course reserves or distribution. For copyright and fair use guidelines, please see our Copyright page. Requests for materials for non-academic purposes should be placed with your local public library or a commercial service.

How do I track my requests?

Log into your My ILLiad account Choose “View Requests,” then “All Requests” from the menu. If you have requested an item and it does not appear in your account, contact us with the item information.

How do I see my previous requests?

To help ensure your privacy, the system retains only a limited number of requests. To view your past requests, log into your My ILLiad account. Choose “View Requests,” then “Completed Requests” from the menu.

How do I cancel a request?

Please contact us with the item information including the title and the ILLiad transaction number (TN).

Where do I return my materials?

Return your items to any UConn Library location with the exception of UConn Health or Law libraries.

How do I renew or clone my materials?

Renewals are at the discretion of the lending library. To request a renewal, log into MyILLiad account and locate the item under ”View Requests.”. Locate the item, choose “Actions,” and then “Renew”. If the institution does not allow for a renewal, or if you have already requested a renewal, you will not be given the option to renew, and it will be grayed out. If you still require the item, choose “Clone Request to initiate a new request for the item. Please note that you still need to return the one you currently have. screenshot of renew menu choice

What happens if I have overdue, lost, or damaged ILLiad materials?

You are responsible for the ILLiad materials that you receive. If items are lost or damaged while in your possession, you will be billed through the Bursar’s Office for repair, replacement, or processing fees assessed by the lending library. Once an invoice has been paid to the lending library, your fines cannot be waived.