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Interlibrary Loan Guide

The Albertsons Library, Boise State University Interlibrary Loan LibGuide informs our patrons on how to navigate Interlibrary loan (ILL) privileges and answers general questions about Interlibrary loans.

Blocked Account

Why Is My ILL Account Blocked?

Your ILL account will be blocked for three reasons.

  1. You have not returned the ILL materials you currently have, and they are either due or past due.
  2. You are no longer a student. 
  3. No longer employed by Boise State University and do not have privileges. 

Call the ILL office at (208)426-3827 or email us at  libraryill@boisestate.edu for help.

Cost?

There is no cost to our patrons because Albertsons Library absorbs the cost of Interlibrary Loan on behalf of its users. Exceptions are lost items.

Ebooks

At this time, due to licensing and copyright issues, ebooks cannot be borrowed via ILL worldwide. Please check with a Reference Librarian regarding your options.

How Long Do I Get To Keep My Ill Item?

Lending times vary based on the lending library. 

How To Cancel A Request

Until our staff has sent out your ILL request, you can cancel it through the ILL system. After the ILL request has been sent out, you will need to call (208) 426-3827 or email (libraryill@boisestate.edu) to stop the request.

As seen below, if your request has been processed and sent out, you will see a "Waiting For A Lender" message in the transaction's status.

Image of Outsanding Request

Password Questions

For password issues or general myBoiseState help, call (208) 426-4357, 7:00 AM-10:00 PM Monday thru Thursday and 7:00 AM-6:00 PM Friday, chat online during business hours, email: helpdesk@boisestate.edu or visit their website.

Research Or Class?

For items published in the most recent five years, sometimes the Library will choose to purchase the item rather than borrow it from another library. To help us decide on your request, we might ask if you need the item for research or a class? Why do we ask this question?

  1. If the item's purpose is to aid in research, we know that, most likely, one person will be using this item at a time. Whereas if the item is for a class, multiple people may want to use the item simultaneously. Therefore it would be more beneficial for the Library to purchase an eRsource such as an eBook so that many people can use it simultaneously.
  2. Timeline is another reason we may ask if the item is for research or a class. We may need to know what semester and what the title of the course is to ensure that the item is available when it is required. And if the item is for research, you may need it longer than the average amount of time.

Texbooks

We try to borrow current textbooks from lending libraries.

Turn-Around Time

Please plan. Articles can take up to three days to receive, and books may take two weeks or longer. Every effort is made to meet the borrower’s “date needed.”

Updating Personal Information In ILLiad

Click Profile on the Interlibrary Loan Home Page to update or change personal information. When you are finished, remember to press the Submit Information button.

Image of Interlibrary Loan Udate Profile Page

What Are The Borrower's Responsibilities?

The individual borrower is responsible for any ILL materials damaged or lost. The library will email overdue notices to the borrower once the item is past its due date. The item is considered lost with the third overdue notice or after 30 days, and the borrower’s account will be blocked. Materials are for the borrower’s personal use only. Because of copyright and ILL code regulations, it is never advisable to obtain ILL materials for group use (i.e., for Reserves, seminars, labs, classes, or committees).

What Do The Things Listed Under View In My ILLiad Account Mean?

  • Outstanding Requests: Requests you have made that are in process, for example, waiting for a lender.
  • Electronically Received Articles: Requested Journal Articles that are available through your interlibrary loan account.
  • Canceled Requests: Requests that you have been canceled for many reasons; for example, a lending library was not available for the item you requested.
  • History Requests: History Requests is a list of all Interlibrary Loan requests that you have made through Albertsons Library that have been finished.
  • All Request: A list of all requests you have made through Albertsons Library's Interlibrary Loan. 
    • Waiting for Lender
    • Request Finished
    • Canceled by ILL Staff
  • Notifications: Notifications are the history of notifications that you have received from Albertsons Library Interlibrary Loan.

What is the difference between ILL and Purchase?

Purchase:

For books published in the most recent five years, the library will sometimes purchase the item rather than borrow it from another library. To help us decide, we may ask you to please reply to these questions:

Do you need this book for a class?
Do you need this book for research?
If for a class, what is the class name and number?
Do you need this title as an ebook or print?
Do you need the entire book or just a chapter?

ILL:

Albertsons Library does not own ILL items. The items are lent to our patrons by other lending libraries nationally and internationally. ILL items are, therefore, under the lending library's rules, such as due dates.

What To Do If You Lose Your Interlibrary Loan Item

Interlibrary loan items are considered lost with the third overdue notice, and the borrower’s account will be blocked. How to get your account unblocked?

  1. Borrowed material is returned.
  2. The fine is paid for the lost material.
  3. If you have lost your interlibrary loan and can not pay the fine associated with your account, please email or call. We will be able to work with you if we are aware.

Why Was My Article or Book Request Canceled?

Cancelled signs.

Your Interlibrary Loan Article Request may be canceled if

  1. The Interlibrary Loan Unit can not find a library to lend the article. 
  2. Your request is past the 30-day "Not Wanted After Date."
  3. The citation is bad.
  4. The request is over 50 pages.

Your Interlibrary Loan Book Request may be canceled if 

        1. The Interlibrary Loan Unit can not find a library to lend the book.

         2. The citation is bad.

         3. The book is only available in electronic formats.