1. How do I request research material using ILL?
- Check our catalog (WMS) and Journal Title Search to verify that the McGraw-Page Library does not have the materials you need. TIP: You may also be able to find articles in Google Scholar.
- This short tutorial will walk you through how to place an ILL request.
- The Library Patron Portal (Requests) allows you to track the status of all of your pending ILL requests, view a history of your past ILL requests (up to 5 years), cancel or resubmit ILL requests, and view due dates for your loaned ILL items.
2. How quickly can I get materials through ILL?
The time it takes to receive and process an item through ILL can vary. Articles can usually be obtained within 1-3 business days while physical books typically take longer, often 7-10 business days. Please plan accordingly and submit your requests as early as possible.
3. What kinds of materials can I request?
Below is a list of items you can request through ILL. Please note that it is at the lending library's discretion as to whether or not they will loan something through ILL.
- Books (print format) and book chapter copies.
- Journal article copies.
- DVDs.
- Items from special collections.
- Bound volumes of periodicals.
- Microfiche/microfilm.
- Theses/dissertations (these tend to be difficult to get, but we always try our best!). TIP: Try the Dissertations and Theses Global database first, you may find your item there!
- Audio-visual materials.
A NOTE REGARDING TEXTBOOKS: Due dates for items loaned through ILL are determined by the lender and can vary widely. For this reason, ILL is not recommended as a way to obtain textbooks.
A NOTE REGARDING EBOOKS: Please be aware that we are sometimes unable to get an e-book through ILL due to lending restrictions established by publishers.
4. How much does ILL cost to use?
Interlibrary Loan is a free service for R-MC students, faculty and staff. The only time a patron would be billed for an ILL item is if it is lost or damaged and the lending library bills us for it.
5. How will I know when my ILL item has arrived?
You will receive a system-generated email to your Randolph-Macon email account when your item has arrived. Please be sure to monitor your spam/junk/quarantine/other folders, as sometimes the notification may land there.
- ILL loans are placed on the ILL Pickup Cart near the Information Desk for retrieval when the library is open. Checkout is done when the book comes in as a part of ILL processing, so there is no need to make a separate stop to the Information Desk. #grabandgo
- Copies of journal articles that arrive electronically will be sent to your inbox (again, please be sure to monitor your spam/junk/quarantine/other folders if you don't see anything in your inbox). Articles that arrive as paper copies can be picked up from the ILL Pickup Cart.
6. How long can I keep an ILL item?
- Copies of articles and book chapters are yours to keep. Articles and book chapter copies received electronically are automatically deleted after 30 days, so be sure to save a copy to your computer, Google Drive, or OneDrive.
- Many lenders set their ILL loan periods at 8 weeks (but, again, this can vary). If you need some more time with your ILL loan, contact the Interlibrary Loan Office at ill@rmc.edu to ask them to request a renewal on your behalf.
7. How can I renew an ILL item?
To renew an ILL item, contact the Interlibrary Loan office at ill@rmc.edu. They will request a renewal from the lending library. Please note that due dates and renewals for ILL items are at the discretion of the lending library and cannot be appealed.
8. How do I return something I borrowed through ILL?
Please use the book drop in the Library vestibule to return your ILL books or other physical material borrowed through ILL. Journal article and book chapter copies do not need to be returned.
