Borrowing
Interlibrary Loan & Delivery Services
General Policies
Eligibility
- We support the research needs of current LSU faculty, staff, LSU and LSU Online students, and emeritus faculty.
- Borrowing privileges are not extended to any other classes of library patrons. All other patrons should seek assistance from their local public library. If you are in some way currently associated with LSU, but do not fall into the standard category of LSU faculty, staff, and/or students, and need Interlibrary Loan assistance, please contact us to see if special arrangements can be made.
- Faculty and students affiliated with the LSU Law School should request Interlibrary Loan service from LSU Law Library's Interlibrary Loan.
Material Types (must be in support academic research)
- Articles
- Books
- Book Chapters
- Microforms
- Thesis/Dissertations
- Audio-visual Materials
- Music Scores
- Reports
- Conference Proceedings
- And More!
Limitations
- One article/book chapter per request.
- Entire books cannot be scanned due to copyright restrictions.
- Textbooks for use in LSU courses can be ordered through interlibrary loan. Be aware that textbooks borrowed through ILL are typically due back to the lending library before the end of the semester..
- Due dates for print materials are set by the lending library. Typical loan periods are 4-6 weeks with one 2-4 week renewal allowed.
- E-books are rarely available through Interlibrary Loan due to copyright restrictions. We will attempt to fill your ebook request. If not available, we will provide a print book.
- New, in-print books can be requested, but may be too new to be available for loan. If so, we will offer to hold your request until a print book becomes available.
- Library Use Only items must remain in the library while being used. This restriction is imposed by the lending library. We are usually informed of it after we receive the material. Rare, manuscript, fragile, reference, genealogical, and audio-visual material requests are often designated Library Use Only.
- Entire print journal issues/volumes can be requested. Requests for older issues/volumes (pre-2005) are more likely to be filled. To request, use the “Book” request form on your ILL account. Whole issues/volumes cannot be delivered electronically due to copyright restrictions.
- Theses/Dissertations can be found through the Proquest database provided by LSU Libraries. Search Proquest before placing your ILL request. When you place a thesis/disseration request we will attempt to find an electronic copy. If unavailable, we will borrow it from the publishing university.
Materials owned by LSU Libraries (Document Delivery)
- Books - We accept requests for materials owned by LSU Library. If you request a whole book we hold locally, we will retrieve it and notify you when it is ready for pickup at the Access Services desk. Faculty and Staff have the option to have the book delivered their departmental mailbox.
- Journal Articles and Book Chapters - When you request an article or book chapter that we hold in print, we will provide a scan. If you request an article or book we hold electronically, we will provide it.
Number of Requests
- There is no limit to the total number of items that an eligible patron can request through Interlibrary Loan,
- A researcher who has a large or complex request is encourged to email Interlibrary Loan at libilb@lsu.edu and explain the request.
Borrowing Fees
LSU Libraries provides Interlibrary Loan services free of charge to eligible LSU patrons, with the following exceptions:
- Fees resulting from the late return, loss, or damage of materials by the patron.
- Fees for requests that exceed $65. If the request will cost the Libraries more than $65, the patron will be offered the opportunity to pay the additional amount and the request will be filled. Payment can be made via the patron's LSU departmental account, or by cash, check, or credit card.
Overdue Items
- All overdue and/or replacement charges are up to the lending library.
- Notify the ILL Department Head immediately for lost, stolen, or extremely damaged loans, 225-578-6722, libilb@lsu.edu, to prevent library privileges from being blocked while this matter is being cleared up with the lending library.
- For standard overdue items:
- Patrons should return the loan to Interlibrary Loan Services as quickly as possible.
- Once recieved, ILL will return the item to the lender as quickly as possible.
- Patrons will receive an email notification if fees are charged by the lender.
- LSU Libraries will charge the patron an additional $30.00 processing fee when the lender charges a fee.
Overdue Notice Process
These steps may vary during holidays, time constraints, or if in correspondence with the Head of the Department.
- Due Soon Notice sent during the week before the item is due.
- First Overdue Notice sent during the first week that the item is past due.
- Second Overdue Notice sent during second week that the item is past due, and ILL privileges blocked.
- Third Overdue Notice sent during the third week that item is past due, additional LSU Library privileges blocked.
Renewing Loans
Request a renewal to extend the due date of checked out ILL material. One renewal request is allowed per loan and approval and length of extension is up to the lending library. Renewals are usually granted for 2-4 weeks. Renewal requests can be made starting 10 days before due date and cannot be requested after the due date has passed.
To request a renewal:
- Logon to your ILL account.
- Under "View Your Requests" click “Checked Out /Renew.”
- Click on the transaction number (TN) of the item you want to renew.
- If the item is eligible for renewal (10 days or fewer before due) click the “Renew Request” link in red,
- Your new due date is a three-day extension of the original due date, to allow the lender time to decide whether to grant a full extentsion. If the lender grants a full extension, a notification email will be sent to the patron. If a follow-up email is not received, please contact the Interlibrary Loan Services office to check on the progress of the renewal, or return the loan on the three-day extended due date.
Requesting an Interlibrary Loan
Journal Articles
Place requests for journal articles automatically through a Discovery search or manually through your ILL account.
Print Books and other physical items
Place requests for whole books and physical items through your ILL account.
- Please include a full citation including year and edition when appropriate. WorldCat is useful for finding citation information.
- When items are not picked up, the user’s name and transaction number of the request is recorded for future reference. Abuse of borrowing privileges may result in a disruption and/or termination of borrowing privileges. Please make every effort to be sure Interlibrary Borrowing requested material is essential for academic research success.
Photocopies
- LSU Libraries subsidizes orders for up to $65.00. Patrons will be asked to assume fees if their order exceeds the $65.00 limit.
- US Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code) applies to materials requested through Interlibrary Borrowing. One of the conditions of the law is that the copy cannot be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." Please keep this in mind when ordering photocopies.
- Copyright Law states that within one calendar year, no more than five copies of articles from the same journal title (published within the most recent five years) can be ordered without paying a copyright fee.
- Copies may arrive within 24 hours to two weeks. When an article/book chapter arrives, the patron is notified by email.
- Most articles/book chapters will be made available electronically through ILLiad, exceptions include copyright restrictions or more than 150 pages.
- Unless otherwise stated, articles/book chapters do not have to be returned; they are intended for the patron to keep.
Loans
- Allow 3 days-2 weeks minimum for your loan to arrive.
- As with photocopies, patrons will be notified via email when loans arrive.
- Once notified, the material can be picked up at the Access Services desk, 2nd Floor, Main Library. Picture ID is required.
- Patrons can authorize others to pick up their materials for them by listing each person's name as an Authorized User through their ILLiad account; to access this information, login to ILLiad, click on “Change User Information” under “Tools”, type in each name in the “Authorized User” section, and click “Submit Information.” Authorized Users must present a picture ID card when picking up materials.
- Patrons must abide by the conditions printed on the loan label, which can be found on the outside of the loaned material.
- Items must be returned to the Access Services desk on the first floor.
Patron Communications
Personal contact information in ILLiad is not linked to myLSU, be sure to keep your ILLiad personal information current by regularly updating the "Change User Information" in your ILLiad account.
ILLiad notifications will be sent through email from libilb@lsu.edu. We are required to send all ILLiad notifications to patrons' lsu.edu email addresses. The following is a sample of our general notifications: arrival of requested materials, renewals, due soons, and overdues; we may also send notifications if we have any questions or concerns about requests.
Time Considerations
Planning ahead is essential to ensure receipt of materials when needed.
Books and other Returnables
- A minimum of 1-2 weeks should be allowed for material availability. This assumes that a library can be located immediately and will fill the request promptly.
- Interlibrary Borrowing requests are sent through electronic networks. The materials are usually sent via U.S. Mail/Library Rate.
- Limit the number of requests you place at one time because ILL loan periods are shorter than for locally owned books. ILL loan periods are typically 4-8 weeks, typicailly with one 2-4 week renewal. Please ensure that you have enough time to view the material received. Loans will not be available to borrow for a full semester.
Serials/Journals and other Photocopies/Non-Returnables
- Standard journal articles may arrive within 24 hours, but can take up to two or more weeks to arrive depending on the mode of delivery and provider.
- Because all articles are not available from commercial providers, requesters should plan ahead when ordering in the event that titles are not available from a supplier.
- A maximum of 8 requests should be placed per day, please space out your requests over a period of time according to priority.
Cancellations
- Please contact our office immediately if the material is no longer needed.
- Cancellation notifications are sent via email with detailed information concerning the reason for the cancellation. Contact us with questions or concerns about cancellations.
Rush
- To rush a request, add a note in the note field stating “NEED ASAP” and ensure that the "Need By" date on your request is an accurate deadline. Every effort is made to obtain your material as quickly as possible. Notifying us of your deadline will prompt us to purchase electronic material outright if we are unable to borrow from another library before your "Need By" date.
Electronic Delivery
- Electronic material will be available through ILLiad for up to 30 days.
- Material is to be used for scholarly use only. An allowance of one copy is allowed to be printed for personal use.
- To access articles electronically, log into ILLiad and select the "View/Download Electronically Received Articles" option.
- Loss of access within 30 days of delivery, contact Interlibrary Loan Services for renewed access through original request: libilb@lsu.edu; please do not submit a new request if it is within 30 days of delivery of the original material.
LSU Online
Request materials from LSU Libraries through you Interlibrary Loan account. Please note that borrowing books from other libraries takes time. A minimum of 2 to 3 weeks is usually required. We recommend before using ILL services for physical items the patron attempt to find the needed material in a public or academic library near them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can undergraduates use Interlibrary Borrowing?
Yes. The service is available to undergraduates, but please be aware that materials may take a week or more to arrive due to dependence on other libraries and delivery systems. Our borrowing service is best used to obtain materials well in advance of when assignments are due. Unless an exact source is needed, similar or the same information is usually available within the LSU Libraries, before requesting to borrow materials, please check the Online Catalog or with a Research and Instruction Services Librarian using our Ask Us! service.
Do I include my citation?
Yes. In order to request an item from another university you must provide verification through a bibliographic resource or index that can be cited. If you do not have the original source of reference, you can use the “Databases” available through the search resources available on the LSU Library Home Page for verification, or search the internet. Please do not abbreviate; full titles must be included.
What is copyright? And how does it affect my request?
Copyright [US Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code)] is protection afforded to the writer or publisher to exclusive rights to reproduce, publish, and sell their material. Interlibrary Borrowing must comply with laws associated with copyright when requesting materials for their patrons. There is often a charge for these requests. LSU Libraries subsidizes $65.00 of this fee; should the charge exceed $65.00, patrons will be asked to pay the difference before the request is processed.
Materials obtained through Interlibrary Borrowing are for the exclusive use of the individual requesting the materials. These materials and copyright infringement are the borrower's responsibility while in their possession. Copyright infringement will result in loss of borrowing privileges.
Can I order items that cost more than $65.00?
LSU Libraries will pay up to $65.00 for materials or articles ordered through ILLiad; should the charge exceed $65.00, patrons will be asked to pay the difference before the request is processed. Charges can be paid with cash, personal credit card, Tiger Card, or charged to an LSU departmental account.
Where do I pick up my material?
Access Services desk, 2nd Floor Main Library. Picture ID is required.
How do I know my material has arrived?
Patrons will be notified via LSU email when their material has arrived and is available for pick-up.