Interlibrary Loan - Temporary

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) allows UTC students, faculty, and staff to obtain library materials that the UTC Library does not own (except textbooks - please see "What can be requested?" below).

Make an Interlibrary Loan Request       Library Account

Requesting an Item

How to make a request

  • Requests are submitted using the “Make a Request” form available in the UTC Library catalog. Log in to your UTC Library Account using your UTCID and Password to place a request.
  • You can also use the “Get It @ UTC” button in WorldCat and our other databases to connect you to the “Make a Request” form.
  • You can request items, view checkouts, renew loans, access articles, and check the status of your requests through your UTC Library Account.

What can be requested?

  • The ILL service can request books, journal articles, book chapters, and DVDs to support the research and curricular needs of UTC students, faculty, and staff.
  • E-books may not be available through Interlibrary Loan due to licensing restrictions. We will notify you if we can acquire an e-book to fulfill your request.
  • Please be aware that popular and rare books are often difficult to obtain due to demand and availability. Allow extra time for popular fiction or items that only a few libraries own. The following items are also difficult to obtain as many libraries will not lend them: archival material, entire journal volumes, dissertations and theses, maps, and reference works like dictionaries and thesauri.
  • ILL cannot serve as a replacement for purchasing textbooks. Textbooks found on the current UTC textbook list and available through the UTC Bookstore cannot be borrowed in print from another library. We realize that the burden to purchase textbooks is often high. If you are finding it difficult to acquire your textbooks, please let your instructor know and encourage them to place a copy in our Course Reserves. You may also want to speak with a UTC Bookstore representative about rental options.
  • Interlibrary Loan will make every attempt to acquire requested material but reserves the right to cancel requests for more recreational materials, such as popular fiction, trade paperbacks, self-help books, travel guides, crafting guides, cookbooks, and self-published materials, unless a demonstrated connection to research or an assignment can be provided.
  • Repeated requests for the same items will not be honored.

How many items can be requested?

  • Eligible UTC ILL users can borrow a maximum of 10 items per week.

How long does it take for items to arrive?

  • Turnaround times depend on the availability and the circulation policies of the libraries sending us materials.
  • Articles and book chapters are generally delivered 1-2 business days from the time of request.
  • Books and DVDs average 7 business days to arrive from the time of request.

What does it cost?

  • Some libraries charge for the use of their books or articles. The UTC Library will cover those charges up to $25 per request. If we are only able to obtain your requested material from a library that charges more than $25, we will contact you to ask if you are willing to pay those additional charges. If so, we will place a bill on your UTC Library Account for the difference. This bill can be paid at the Check Out Desk using Scrappy Cash.
  • ILL users accept responsibility for all charges assessed by a lending library for overdue, lost, and/or damaged items. The lending library determines whether an item is overdue, lost, or damaged and also determines all fines and fees associated with those conditions. Charges will be passed on directly to you via a bill within your UTC Library Account. Bills for ILL items assessed by other libraries cannot be waived. If fines exceed $15.00, a hold will be placed on your account with the UTC Library and with the University. Payments can be made at the UTC Library Check Out Desk via Scrappy Cash loaded onto your Mocs Card.

Who can make a request?

  • Interlibrary loan services are available to current UTC students, faculty, and staff.
  • For users not belonging to those groups, we encourage you to contact your local public library about interlibrary loan services.

Tips for Faster Service

  • Carefully search for your citation in WorldCat or the UTC Catalog.
  • Use the "Make a Request - Interlibrary Loan and Suggest a Purchase" button when searching the UTC Catalog.
  • You can use the “Get It @ UTC” button in WorldCat and our other databases to connect you to the “Make a Request” form as well.
  • Make sure your citations are as accurate as possible, including authors, titles, and ISSNs or ISBNs when available.
  • Use the notes field on your request form to give us any information that may help us find the item you need, especially if you are unsure of your citation or your citation is incomplete. Users are also responsible for providing a complete bibliographic citation for each item requested, including author, title, date of publication, pages needed, etc.
  • The source of the citation (database searched and accession number, book reference and page) are also very helpful and can be added as notes. Any other special information like deadlines or format or edition needed are appreciated.
  • Please verify that a requested item is not already available through the UTC Library. You can use the UTC Library Catalog to search for citations/titles. If you have any questions about using our search tools, please contact us at [email protected]. 

Receiving Requested Items

Where do I pick up Items?

  • Articles and book chapters are delivered electronically as a PDF file. You will receive an e-mail with a link to download your requested article or book chapter when it is available. A download option is also available from your UTC Library Account under the “My Requests” tab. Articles can be viewed for 60 days after receipt and downloaded up to 5 times.
  • Books and DVDs can be picked up and returned at the Check Out Desk on the first floor of the UTC Library.
  • You will be notified by e-mail when your item arrives at the library and receive instructions for pick-up.

What is I forget to pick up my item?

  • We hold items for two weeks at the Check Out Desk from the date the item arrives.
  • We send one reminder email during this period if the item has not been picked up.

How long can I keep my item?

  • Loan periods for ILL materials are set by the lending library. When you receive your item, it will have details about the due date and whether you may request a renewal to keep the item a bit longer.  If a renewal is allowed, you can request the renewal via your UTC Library Account. You may request only one renewal per item. If the lending library does not agree to your two-week request, we will notify you via e-mail to return the item.
  • We strive to request from libraries that will provide the longest loan period possible for your material. We cannot guarantee specific check-out periods, especially for items with limited availability.
  • We recommend that if you need your item for longer than one month in order to support long-term research or curricular needs to note this when filling out our “Make a Request” form.

Can I make copies of my items?

  • The lending library may impose other restrictions on use such as “in library use only” or “no photocopying.” We ask your cooperation in abiding by these restrictions so that we may continue to use these libraries’ collections on behalf of the UTC community.

Returning and Renewing Requested Items

Renewals

  • Renewals are available for items based on policy set by the lending library. You can renew items one time for a two-week period.
  • Items with "NO RENEWALS" noted on the paperwork provided with the item cannot be renewed.
  • Renewals for physical items can be requested beginning one week before the due date. Go to the “My Checked Out Items” tab of your UTC Library to request a renewal.
  • Renewals can be requested via your UTC Library Account.

What happens if I lose an item?

  • You must pay a replacement fee and processing fee determined by the library lending you the material. We will place a bill on your UTC Library Account. This bill can be paid at the Check Out Desk using Scrappy Cash.

Returning items

  • Physical items may be returned to the Check Out Desk on the first floor of the UTC Library.
  • Articles and book chapters will be delivered from the lending library directly to your UTC Library Account as a PDF document. We suggest saving all pdf documents to your own preferred device once received. Files are removed from your account 60 days after the delivery date or after 5 downloads.

Other policies

Can the UTC Library purchase my request?

  • All ILL requests for monographs are assessed for purchase for the UTC Library collection. This assessment will consider cost, relevance to curriculum and research needs, and the availability of the item in an electronic format where licensing allows for the utilization by all students, faculty, and staff. If a requested item meets the criteria for purchase, we will prioritize purchase in an electronic format. Purchase of a print copy will only occur when licensing options provide limited access to UTC students, faculty, and staff or in cases where electronic licensing is cost prohibitive. In cases where we decide an item is not viable for purchase, ILL staff will request a physical item be sent to the UTC Library from another library.

Mission

The mission of the UTC Library Interlibrary Loan unit is to support the teaching, learning and research endeavors of UTC students, faculty, and staff by providing access to information not locally available through the quick and accurate processing of information requests, and to contribute to the larger scholarly community through lending our materials. We offer this support by delivering excellent customer service in the most effective and efficient manner possible, valuing the free exchange of information, employing the effective use of technology, establishing beneficial partnerships with other libraries and institutions, encouraging staff to engage in relevant training and development, and improving the unit's effectiveness through systematic, ongoing assessment of data.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us via e-mail at [email protected].

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