FAQ
- What is ILL?
- Who is eligible for ILL?
- What can be requested through ILL?
- What cannot be requested?
- How do I login to ILL?
- How many items can I request from ILL?
- How much does it cost?
- How long will it take to receive my items?
- Why was my request cancelled?
- How will I be notified that my materials have arrived?
- Where do I pick up my ILL materials?
- What is the loan period for ILL materials?
- Can I renew my ILL materials?
- What does this status mean?
- What are the fines for late or lost ILL materials?
- Where do I return my materials?
- What is copyright law?
- What do the copyright conditions and limits mean?
- Are there alternatives to using ILL?
- Still have questions?
What is ILL?
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a service that facilitates access to research materials unavailable at Texas Woman's University (TWU) Libraries. We act as an agent in obtaining physical and electronic materials from any of over 16,000 other libraries. The service also may be used to request items or digital scans of resources located at another TWU campus library.
Who is eligible to use ILL?
Currently registered TWU students, faculty, and staff may submit requests for materials. We serve library users from all three campuses (Denton, Dallas, and Houston) as well as distance learners and adjunct faculty. ILL services are not available to TWU Libraries courtesy card holders or other non-TWU individuals.
What can be requested through ILL?
- Physical Books (except those listed below)
- Electronic copies of single book chapters within copyright limitations
- Electronic journal, magazine, and newspaper articles
- Theses and dissertations
What cannot be requested?
- Reference books
- Reserve books
- Entire ebooks
- Textbooks
- Entire volumes or issues of journals
- Audio-visual materials (sound recordings, DVDs, videos)
- Computer software
- Rare books and other fragile or bulky items
- Items located in our Woman’s/Special Collection vault
Note: Materials accessed through ILL are for individual research purposes and cannot be placed in our Reserves Collection.
How do I login to ILL?
Your ILL account is accessible through the ILLiad system. Learn more on our Interlibrary Loan page.
How many items can I request from ILL?
You may request however many physical items fit within your TWU check out privileges.
There is no limit to the amount of requests you can submit in ILLiad, but we reserve the right to establish priorities of service when the number of requests received from a single individual might adversely affect the service offered to others.
How much does it cost?
Most requests are filled free of charge. Occasionally, some materials may require a fee. These charges generally range from $10.00-$25.00. If the materials you requested are only available for a fee, you will be notified via email of the cost before we continue processing your request. If you accept the costs, you will not be charged until the materials arrive.
How long will it take to receive my items?
Loan/physical requests average 2-3 weeks, while electronic copy requests average one week. However, we have no control over how long another library takes to fill a request. Some requests can be difficult to fill and may take longer. Be sure to submit requests well in advance to avoid inconveniences or delays. You can log into your ILLiad account anytime to track and check the status of your request.
Why was my request cancelled?
You will receive an email notification with the reason for the cancellation. Typically, requests are cancelled because no other libraries are able to provide access to the resource, the request was a duplicate of one you previously submitted, or the request does not comply with copyright law*. However, please feel welcome to contact us by phone (940-898-3728) or email (ill@twu.edu) if you have any questions.
How will I be notified that my materials have arrived?
A notification will be sent to the email address you provided in your ILLiad account.
Physical materials will be available to check out at the campus library indicated in the email. Electronic copies will be delivered to your ILLiad account and remain available for 30 days.
Where do I pick up my ILL materials?
Visit your campus library Information Desk and provide any valid photo ID to check out your materials.
If the campus library listed in the notification email is not correct, please contact us as soon as possible by phone (940-898-3728) or email (ill@twu.edu).
What is the loan period for ILL materials?
The due date is set by the lending library and will be indicated on the ILL sleeve attached to the physical item. The loan period is generally 2-3 weeks; however, this varies by lending institutions. The loan period is set when a lending library sends the item – not when you receive it.
Due dates cannot be extended, and the items cannot be renewed by TWU Libraries. Please plan to use materials during the time they are available to you. ILL materials are subject to recall by the lending library, which will change your due date; an email notification will be sent if the materials have been recalled.
Electronic copies are available in your ILLiad account for 30 days.
Can I renew my ILL materials?
ILL materials are not renewable. The due date is set by the lending library, not TWU. Please plan to use loaned materials during the time they are available to you.
What does this status mean?
There are many common statuses in ILLiad that you might see when tracking your request:
- Request Sent: TWU Libraries ILL staff submitted your request to a potential lending library and we’re awaiting a response.
- Awaiting Processing: ILL staff are processing the request.
- Awaiting Copyright Clearance: ILL staff are reviewing copyright restrictions to ensure your request can be fulfilled.
- In DD Stacks Searching: ILL staff are searching in the TWU Libraries collections for the requested resource.
- Shipped: The physical materials have been shipped to TWU Libraries from the lending library.
- Customer Notified via Email: A notification email has been sent with info/next steps regarding your request.
- Checked Out to Customer: The item is currently checked out to you.
- Request Finished: The request has been completed.
- Unfilled/Cancelled: The request could not be filled.
What are the fines for late or lost ILL materials?
Overdue fines for ILL materials are $1 per day. Replacement fees are determined and set by the lending library.
Where do I return my materials?
Texas Woman's University Libraries
Interlibrary Loan
307 Administration Drive
Denton, TX 76204-5528
Failure to return materials on time not only results in overdue fines, it harms our relationship with other libraries and ability to borrow items in the future.
What is copyright law?
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyright material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research". If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use", that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.
What do the copyright conditions and limits mean?
Print items digitized by TWU Libraries and electronic resources will be subject to the following limitations: No more than one chapter or 10% from a single book. No more than one article from a single issue of a journal.
Are there alternatives to using ILL?
Yes, you can check your local public library to see if the materials you need are available for check out. You can also apply for a TexShare card. TexShare cardholders are able to check materials out from participating Texas libraries.
Still have questions?
Please contact the TWU Libraries Interlibrary Loan Department by phone (940-898-3728) or email (ill@twu.edu).
Our hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM-5:00 PM. Emails and voicemails received after business hours will be returned as soon as possible.