This page covers the entire ILL Borrowing request process: which request form to use, how to complete the form, how to track your request, when/where/how to access your fulfilled request, when your loaned items are due, how to renew, where/how to return loaned materials, and how to handle request problems and cancellations.

What can I request?

You may request anything that you need for your research, including articles, books, DVDs, and microfilm; however, we are not able to borrow required textbooks and not all items are able to be obtained.

Can I request materials from Laupus Health Sciences Library?

Yes, material from the Laupus Health Sciences Library may be requested through Joyner ILL Borrowing by main campus students, faculty, and staff. To increase the speed of your request, please note in the request form that the desired item is owned by Laupus, what its collection location is (reference, stacks, etc.), and what its call number is. Alternatively,  you may visit Laupus Library and use its materials, make photocopies, and check books out.

Can I make requests for my professor or a friend?

Requests should not be made on behalf of another person. Whoever requests the item is responsible for it should it be overdue, lost, or damaged. For details on requesting a Research Account to use for assisting faculty with their research, click here. Beyond protecting you from being responsible for items you did not request or use, having an accurate record of interlibrary loans helps the library with its decisions on what collection areas need more attention or funding.

What do I need to do before submitting a request?

You will need to create an ILLiad account before you make your first request. All subsequent requests may be made directly after logging onto the ILLiad system. Before making each request, please check Joyner's online catalog, our extensive database collections, and the E-Journal Locator/Citation Linker to be sure that what you want to request is not immediately available online or in the library.

What is the "Not Wanted After" date on the request form?

Given that ILL can sometimes take anywhere between hours and weeks, the ILL staff need to know if you are working under a deadline. If you know that what you are requesting will be of no use to you after a set date (i.e. the date your term paper is due date), please list a date before then in the date field. Please plan ahead and make requests as soon as you know you will need them. If the needed by date has passed and the request has still not been filled, the ILL staff will cancel the request.

How do I submit a request?

Requests should be made using the ILLiad system. Requests made by phone, email, fax, mail, or in person usually will not be accepted. If you have any questions about how to submit requests through ILLiad, please contact the ILL staff.

1. Login to ILLiad.
2. Select the type of request you would like to make. The two basic request types are "Article / Chapter" and "Book / Dissertation"; other request forms are also available. Choose the one closest to your request. If in doubt, use the "Other" form.
3. Forms should be completed as fully and accurately as possible.
4. Enter one item per request. If you want two articles from the same journal issue or two chapters from one book, you need to submit a request for each article and each chapter. If there are multiple parts to one item, say a three volume DVD documentary, you may place one request stating that you need the entire set.
5. Please list the ISSN or ISBN and/or the OCLC number if you know it. This greatly speeds our processing and ensures that we get exactly the edition you desire. If you don't know what these numbers are, please Ask a Librarian or the ILL staff.
6. Abbreviations will slow our processing time. If you know the full title, please list it. Do not guess, though, because there are often multiple journals with similar titles. If you are uncertain of your citation, please Ask a Librarian before placing the request.

What should I do if I get an error message while making a request?

ILLiad may give you error messages while you are logged in for a variety of reasons. If it continues to fail, please contact the ILL staff.

• You might have left a required field blank on a request form or have entered the required information in an incorrect format. If so, red text will be displayed at the top of the form to give you directions.
• Your ILLiad session might have ended. Sessions only last 30 minutes. Simply login to ILLiad again.
• ILLiad could be experiencing a system outage or error. Please try again.

Why was my request cancelled?

Most cancelled requests have been attempted to be borrowed but were for unavailable from lenders (see this site for possible reasons). Sometimes requests must be cancelled because of Joyner Library procedure, such as a request for a required course textbook. When a request is cancelled, you will receive an e-mail explaining the circumstances of the cancellation. If you have questions, please contact the ILL staff.

What is the status of my request? Where is it?

You may track the status of your request in ILLiad by looking in the "Pending Requests" section or searching for your request using the search box in the upper right of ILLiad. Once you find your request, click on the transaction number (e.g. TN123456); the request details will be displayed so you can see the current status and previous statuses. Explanations for the tracking information may be found at this web page. You may also contact the ILL staff to check on the status of your request.

• If your request is listed as "checked out to customer" you either already have picked up the item or it is waiting for you to pick it up from your delivery location (Joyner Library, Music Library, or distance education delivery site).
• If the status is "delivered electronically" you should be able to view the PDF file via ILLiad's "received articles" option.

Please remember that the interlibrary loan process can take days or weeks to fulfill your request. For an explanation, visit the ILL Process / Why does ILL take so long? webpage.

How do I know my request is available for pickup? Where do I pick it up?

Notifications are automatically sent to your e-mail account when loaned materials or photocopies arrive.

• Loaned materials may be picked up at your delivery location: Joyner Library, Music Library, or distance education site.
• For photocopies, your email will have a link to a scanned version (most often a PDF file) on our web server. You may also access scanned items through ILLiad's "Electronically Received Articles" option.

It is your responsibility to check your e-mail account and/or login to ILLiad to check on the status of your requests. Materials that are not picked up by the due date may be sent back to the lending library and we will be unlikely to request them again for you.

When is my ILL due?

Due dates for ILL materials vary greatly. Most loan periods are for a couple weeks to a month; others allow only a week or possibly even several months. The date is set by the lending library, not Joyner, and is NOT determined by your ECU status as a student, faculty, or staff member. Due dates are clearly printed on the bands on every ILL item and may be viewed in ILLiad under the "Checked Out Items" option. You may also contact the ILL office to check on your due dates. Failure to return ILL materials by the due date will result in the suspension of your interlibrary loan privileges.

Can I renew my ILL loan?

Most lending libraries will allow one renewal of borrowed materials; if renewals are not allowed, the label on the item will state "NO RENEWALS." If allowed, renewals must be requested several days before the item is due. Use your ILLiad account to request a renewal, or contact the ILL office.

• The lending library always has the right to deny a renewal request or to shorten or lengthen a renewal request. You will be notified via email by the ILL staff of the new date, but you may also view it in ILLiad.
• Failure to return ILL materials by the due date or renewed due date will result in the suspension of your interlibrary loan privileges.

How do I renew my Interlibrary Loan?

You may renew materials using ILLiad's 'Renew' option or by calling, emailing, or visiting the ILL office.

Renewal requests should be made several days before the due date listed on the item and in ILLiad. If you know you will need the item longer, please contact the ILL office to request an extended renewal period. Because ILL is intended to provide material for only a short period of time, some libraries do not allow renewals or extended due dates, but the ILL staff will attempt to gain a longer due date if you absolutely need an extension. If the lending library refuses, you will need to return the item.

What is a recall? Do I really have to return my loan?

A recall is a demand that loaned material be returned immediately to the lending library so one of its patrons can use it. Recalls override the due date for an ILL loan. Because the lending library has simply loaned its item  to Joyner for your use, we must comply with its recall. If an item is recalled, Joyner ILL staff will send you an email. If you are not finished with the item, let the ILL staff know and we will attempt to borrow a copy from another library, but you must immediately return the copy that has been recalled. Failure to return a recalled item will result in the suspension of your interlibrary loan privileges, and may result in a block being placed on your library account and a tag on your registrar account, which prohibits registration for classes and the release of grades and transcripts.

Where do I return my ILL?

Return all ILL loans to the ILL office, Joyner Circulation Desk, or the Music Library by the due date. Please do not use the library's book drops, as materials can get damaged in book drops or be misplaced on the way between the book drop and the Interlibrary Loan department.

What happens if interlibrary loan material is lost or damaged?

You are financially responsible for damage to, or loss of, interlibrary loan materials from the time you pick them up to the time they are returned to the Interlibrary Loan office. Should any damage occur, report it to the Interlibrary Loan office. Do not attempt to make repairs yourself.

Why don't I see all my older requests when I look at my request history?

Your interlibrary loan and document delivery requests are available in ILLiad for your reference through the various options on the Main Menu, or you can use the search box in the upper right of the ILLiad screen. Request records are kept for at least five years to ensure compliance with copyright and other provisions. Requests older than five years may be deleted at any time. If you ever need a list of your requests exported, simply ask the ILL staff.

Who do I contact if I have problems with or questions about ILLiad?

Please contact the Interlibrary Loan office at (252) 328-6068 or e-mail to jis@ecu.edu. You may also visit us in Joyner Library to the left of the Circulation Desk.