Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

The interlibrary loan service allows you to borrow books, journal articles and other materials from a nationwide network of libraries. Complete the appropriate request form and library staff will process your request. This service is available only to current CBU students, faculty and staff, and does NOT include textbooks. Community patrons and alumni should use their local public library interlibrary loan service.

• Request a Book
• Request an Article
• Request Other Materials

FAQS:

• What is Interlibrary Loan (ILL)?
• Who can use ILL?
• How do I request materials?
• Whom can I contact regarding ILL?
• How much does it cost?
• How long does it take to receive materials?
• What if materials are needed quickly?
• How long may I keep the material?
• How many requests can I submit?
• How will I know when it arrives?
• May I renew a loan?
• Where do I pick up and return ILL materials?
• Are there any overdue charges?
• Can I request items other than books and articles?
• What items are available through ILL?
• What items are NOT available through ILL?

What is interlibrary loan (ILL)?

• Interlibrary Loan is used to obtain materials not owned by the Annie Gabriel Library or material that is listed as LOST or MISSING from the library. Through our membership in a variety of library cooperations, we are able to locate and receive materials from other libraries in a service that is generally free of charge.

• If you are a CBU student who lives more than 25 miles from our main campus and needs to have library-owned materials mailed to you, you should use the Document Delivery service instead of Interlibrary Loan. You can access that service at this link - https://calbaptist.edu/academics/library/services/dds

Who can use ILL?

• Current CBU students, faculty and staff may use ILL.
• All others, including Alumni, may contact their local public library for ILL services.

How do I request materials?

• Electronic forms are located on the library website and are available for book, journal or other requests. A separate form is required for each ILL request.

Whom can I contact regarding ILL?

• Dr. Barry Parker handles journal article ILL requests. He can be contacted at (951) 343-4242, bparker@calbaptist.edu or in office 110 of the Library.
• Keri Myers Murcray handles ILL book requests. She can be contacted at (951) 343-4228, kmurcray@calbaptist.edu or at the front desk of the Library.

How much does it cost?

• Generally ILL services are free of charge. However, some lending libraries may charge a lending fee between $5-$20. We will contact you for permission prior to submitting the request. All fees must be paid when ILL is received.

How long does it take to receive materials?

• Books or other materials:
  • Though some materials may arrive sooner, please allow at least a minimum of 10 business days for items to arrive.
  • ILL requests will be processed within 2 working days.
  • ILL takes time, so plan ahead and submit your requests at least 2 weeks before it is actually needed.
  • Delivery time for ILL requests is tied to the lending library and their procedures and availability of materials, as well as the postal service. Some lending libraries provide materials more rapidly. However, obscure items may take longer to locate and process.
  • We cannot guarantee which library will loan us a particular item, and if several libraries must be contacted before we find an available copy, the process may take longer than 2 or 3 weeks.
• Journals:
  • Journal articles usually arrive within one week, but often more quickly.
  • Journal article requests will be processed within 2 working days.
  • If you have not received your journal article one week after submitting your request, please contact Barry Parker (bparker@calbaptist.edu or 951-343-4242)
  • Journals will arrive electronically and will be sent directly to your CBU email address.

What if materials are needed quickly?

• Because we cannot know for certain which lending library will let us borrow materials, RECEIPT OF INTERLIBRARY LOAN MATERIALS BY A SPECIFIC DATE CANNOT BE GUARANTEED.

How long may I keep the material?

• The loan period for other ILL items is set by the lending library. The average loan is usually three weeks, but can vary from one week to four weeks or more.
• The due date will be clearly marked on the ILL bookmark.
• Some lending libraries will allow renewals, but this is left to their discretion. Renewal requests must be submitted by phone, email or in person to Keri Murcray (kmurcray@calbaptist.edu or 951-343-4228) at least 3 DAYS prior to the due date.
• Overdue materials will incur fines of $1/day and any lost ILL materials will be charged any fees set by the lending library.
• Patrons who disregard the due date on ILL materials risks damaging our library’s borrowing privilege with the lending library. ILL service is an agreement between libraries, which may be rescinded at any time. Borrowing privileges of patrons who abuse ILL service may be suspended at any time and reinstatement will be left up to the discretion of the ILL department and Library Director.
• ILL items must be returned to the Access Desk of the Library. Do not return ILL items to the book drop or through campus mail.
• All ILL materials are subject to recall by the lending library. Patrons must return materials immediately when a recall notice is received.

How many requests can I submit?

• Requests are unlimited. However, undergraduate students are still limited to 10 book checkouts at a time, including ILL items. Grad students may have up to 15 book checkouts, including ILL items.

How will I know when it arrives?

• Once items are received, you will receive an email informing you that they are available to be picked up at the Access Desk in the library. Books or other items will already be checked out to you and will contain an ILL bookmark that will let you know when your item is due. Journals articles arrive electronically and are emailed to your CBU email address.

May I renew a loan?

• Be aware that renewals are at the discretion of the lending library and many do not permit renewal of ILL items.
• Requests for renewals must be made at least 3 DAYS prior to the due date either in person, through e-mail, or over the phone. (Contact Keri Murcray 951-343-4228 or kmurcray@calbaptist.edu)
• If the renewal is granted, we will notify you by phone or e-mail of the new due date. If the renewal is denied, you must return the item as soon as possible if you have not already returned it.
• Requests for renewals after the date due will not be honored.

Where do I pick up and return ILL materials?

• ILL items will be already checked out to you and available at the Access Desk of the Library. Items must be returned to the Access Desk, not placed in the book drop.

Are there any overdue charges?

• Yes, there is an overdue charge of $1/day charged by our library for any late ILL materials. The lending library may also charge an overdue fee, though not usually. If an ILL item is lost, the lending library may decide to either charge a LOST book fee or the cost of a replacement copy. You are responsible to pay whatever fee is charged by the lending library.

Can I request items other than books and journal articles?

• While it is sometimes possible to receive videos, dissertations, master’s theses, or sound recordings through ILL, few libraries are willing to lend these types of materials and it may not be possible. It can also take longer to receive these materials, as we may have to request it more than once. These items are also more likely to charge a lending fee, though not always.

What items are available through ILL?

• ILL may be used for:
• Books not in our collection or books marked MISSING or LOST in our catalog.
• Journal articles not in our collection or articles missing from our collection.
• We will make every attempt to obtain material in non-book or non-article form (music scores, videos, dissertations, etc.), but due to the policies of the lending libraries these may not always be a possibility.
• New books are frequently not available, but we will make every attempt to locate a library that will loan – but be aware it may take much longer to receive.

What items are NOT available through ILL?

• Items checked out to another patron.
• Textbooks for current classes.
• Items listed as available in the Annie Gabriel Library catalog.
• Whole issues or volumes of journals.
• Reference books, items in special or rare book collections, some dissertations, and audio-visual items may not be available through ILL.
• Books or other items only available overseas.