How-to: use Interlibrary Loan

First in an occasional series of posts from the archives of the LIS eNewsletter. November 2008

If we don’t have a book you want, we can get it for you quickly.  Through Interlibrary Loan, Middlebury College students, faculty, and staff can use books, journal articles, and other research materials owned by libraries across the country.  Here’s how to make an interlibrary loan request:

1)   Search for the item in the NExpress catalog (shortcut:  http://go.middlebury.edu/nexpress).  If you find the item there, click on the “Request” link and fill out the form.  Books should be delivered to the Main Library within a week, articles should be delivered to your email inbox within a few days.

2)    If your item is not available in NExpress, fill out the Illiad form (shortcut:  http://go.middlebury.edu/ill).  Books and articles should be delivered to the Main Library within a few weeks.

Tips:

  • In MIDCAT and other databases, look for the blue “NExpress” button.   It’s a shortcut that searches NExpress for you.
  • In FirstSearch databases such as WorldCat, MLA and PsycInfo, try the button first.  If Middlebury does not own the item then you can request it from NExpress or traditional Interlibrary Loan (ILLiad).
  • Always try to order from NExpress first. Article requests that cannot be filled by NExpress are automatically forwarded to ILLiad for ILL processing.

2 thoughts on “How-to: use Interlibrary Loan

  1. Carol Rifelj

    Just to repeat publicly a message I sent to ILL in October:
    “Your prompt service permitted me to get the sources (electronically, through NeXpress, and through ordinary ILL) that I needed to review an article for publication on an obscure topic. Through you, we have the resources of a research library. It’s much appreciated!”

    Reply

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