ILL Frequently Asked Questions

Interlibrary Loan Service (ILL) is available to UR faculty (including retired UR faculty), staff and students as an aid to research and study. Please check library holdings thoroughly at UR before requesting interlibrary loan material. Reference librarians will be glad to assist you with your search.

Undergraduates are encouraged to exhaust resources at UR before requesting material via ILL due to the length of time it may take to borrow material.

The average time for receiving an article is 3 - 7 days and the average time for receiving a book is 5 - 10 days.

Arrival time depends upon several factors, including how close the supplying library is to the University of Richmond, whether or not the item is immediately available at that library, and transit time. Whenever possible, requests are transmitted electronically, borrowed from the closest holding library, and are sometimes delivered by a courier service in the immediate Richmond area. Photocopies may be faxed or sent via the Internet.

Because ILL cannot predict the location or availability of an item nor can we guarantee that material will be received within a specific time period. Borrowers are encouraged to submit ILL requests well in advance of deadlines.

Once your item is received, you will receive an email to your UR account from the library telling you where to pick up your item. Note that most articles will automatically be sent directly to the requesting patron via your UR email account. Books will be made available either at Boatwright Library's Main Service Desk or the Parson Music Library's Circulation Desk.

Please note that books requested by faculty will be delivered directly to their department's administrative office via document delivery.

Renewal of ILL materials should be looked at as the exception and not the rule. Renewals are strictly up to the lending institution. Please request renewals one week prior to the due date.

To obtain a film or video from a source outside UR you must contact the Media Resource Center (MRC) directly. To borrow films/videos from other schools in the Richmond Academic Library Consortium (RALC) call or e-mail Nick Vogle (x8450, nvogel@richmond.edu). To request films/videos for rental or preview call or e-mail Dywana Saunders (x8451, dsaunder@richmond.edu). ILL service for films/videos is only available for UR faculty.

Materials are sent to out of area SCS students using FedEx. A FedEx paid return label is also included so that the item can be sent back to us. Out of area is generally defined as those students living more than 50 miles away from the main UR campus in Richmond. Thoughtful use of this service is appreciated.

At this time the Libraries provide subsidized service for students, staff and faculty. Careful and conscientious use of interlibrary loan is appreciated.

Borrowers will be charged for lost materials.