Interlibrary Loan

InterLibrary Loan (ILL) is the process through which libraries that are not part of the same consortium share materials with each other. All Alverno patrons with a valid account, including community members who have a courtesy card, may use ILL to request materials Alverno College Library and other partnered libraries do not have access to.

Circulation

• Items borrowed through ILL are subject to the circulation policies of the lending institution, including loan periods and whether or not renewals will be granted. 
• Lending institutions may also recall ILL items according to their policies, meaning that your material will be due sooner than you were originally told. If this happens, the due date will be changed on your library account and you will be notified via email.
• Alverno College Library does not have any control over ILL policies for other institutions.

Fines and fees

• Although Alverno College Library does not charge overdue fines on many items, ILL items are subject to the fines and fees in place at the lending institution. It is the patron’s responsibility to return ILL items on time and any fines and fees accrued will be charged to the patron’s account and are non-negotiable.
• Lost/damaged item fees vary by institution. Not all lending institutions will allow patrons to purchase items in lieu of paying a lost/damaged item fee and these fines will be charged to the patron’s account. 
• Excessive ILL item charges may prevent a patron from enrolling in classes or graduating. If an ILL item is lost, damaged, or unable to be returned on time, the patron is encouraged to contact the ILL Librarian, Sebastian Black, at sebastian.black@alverno.edu.

How do I make a requests?

• Requests can be made by filling out the Article Request or Book Request form. Each form indicates what information is required for us to process the request.
  • To request DVDs and media, theses and dissertations, please use the Book Request form.
• Requests can also be made via WorldCat, which can be found in our list of databases.

What information is needed?

• When filling out the form we will need your:
  o   Name
  o   Alverno email address
  o   Phone number
  o   Status (i.e. undergraduate or graduate student, faculty, staff, alum, community member)
  o   Faculty and staff patrons must indicate their department 

• For book requests:
  o   Complete title
  o   ISBN
  o   Author
  o   Publisher
  o   Copyright date

• For article requests:
  o   Complete title of the article
  o   Complete title of the journal
  o   ISSN of the journal
  o   Volume number
  o   Issue number
  o   Page numbers

How long may I keep items?

• Loan periods are determined by the lending institution.
• Renewals may be requested but should be requested before the due date to allow time for the lending institution to grant or reject the renewal.
• Materials obtained via ILL may only be renewed once.

How much does it cost?

• Materials requested through Interlibrary Loan are obtained at no charge to the patron.
• Overdue and lost material fines and fees are determined by the lending institution. These charges are the patron’s responsibility.

How long does it take to get something through Interlibrary Loan?

• The time needed for physical loans and copies of articles can take up to 7-14 days depending on the response time from lending institutions and the mail. Requests that are filled from Wisconsin institutions in-state and nearby states arrive sooner than 7-14 days.

How will I know when my materials are available for pickup?

• You will be alerted via Alverno email.

Where do  I pick up and return my materials?

• At the Library Help Desk.

For more information, email sebastian.black@alverno.edu, or call (414) 382-6183.