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Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about ILLiad

What is ILLiad?

ILLiad is the electronic system you use to request an item through Interlibrary Loan. The name ILLiad can be thought of as an acronym for InterLibrary Loan internet accessible database.

What is ILL?

ILL stands for Interlibrary Loan. This is the service that allows you to request books, articles, and more from other libraries when they are not available in Tripod, our library catalog, or via EZBorrow.

How do I login to ILLiad?

Your ILLiad username and password are the same as your Bryn Mawr College username and password. If you have forgotten your password, go to http://password.brynmawr.edu to reset it or call the Help Desk (610-526-7440) and they can walk you through the password reset process.

Why don't I see all my older requests when I look at my ILLiad request history?

From time to time we purge older records from ILLiad. Our policy is to keep successful requests online for two years in order to comply with record keeping requirements of copyright law.

What if I forget my password?

In the event that you forget your password, please contact the Interlibrary Loan Coordinator at (610)-526-5278 or email at bmcill@brynmawr.edu. We can then reset your password allowing you access to ILLiad. Please change your password once you logon to ILLiad.

What Web browser should I use?

You need a Web browser that can handle forms, tables, and preferably Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). We recommend the current versions of either Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome.

What items can be ordered through ILL?

Generally: books, articles, and conference papers. Other items (such as dissertations, DVDs, CDs, etc.) may be available at the discretion of the lending library.

What is electronic delivery?

Many libraries ship photocopies of articles to us in electronic format. In the past we printed these articles before delivering them to you. Now, through ILLiad, we are able to offer you the option of electronic delivery of these articles in PDF format (Adobe's Portable Document Format).

Who do I contact if I have problems with or questions about ILLiad?

System Problems or InterLibrary Loan Questions: InterLibrary Loan Coordinator at (600)-526-5278 or e-mail to bmcill@brynmawr.edu
Technical Support Questions: E-mail anytime to bmcill@brynmawr.edu

How do I request an item through ILLiad?

  • Log in to the ILLiad system at https://brynmawr.illiad.oclc.org/illiad/ by entering your Bryn Mawr College username and password.
  • Select the type of item you wish to request (article, book, or other material).
  • Fill in all required fields and as much additional information as you know. Try not to abbreviate. The more information you can supply, the easier it will be to fulfill your request.
  • If you find a citation in one of our electronic databases, but full text is not available, you can access ILLiad directly through the FindIt button.

    • Are there any restrictions on what can be requested through ILL?

    Articles available via our library databases or free online will not be ordered. Items that are owned by any Tri-co library will not be ordered via ILL, unless they are checked out, lost, or otherwise inaccessible.
  • Interlibrary Loan cannot be used to request textbooks. Textbooks for current classes may be on reserve at one of the campus libraries; search for them in Tripod.
    • Some requested materials are under embargo (e.g. some dissertations) and cannot be obtained by ILL.

    How long does it take to get items via ILL?

    Depending on the availability of your requested item and our distance from the lending library, it may take anywhere from 24 hours to one month. Articles normally arrive in one to three days; books and other physical items in one to two weeks. We cannot guarantee that any particular item can be obtained. Please submit requests early to allow materials to be delivered in time for your projects.

    How can I get my ILL items faster?

    Before putting in an ILL request, please try the following:

    • Check Tripod, the library catalog, to see if Bryn Mawr, Haverford or Swarthmore already have your item. Remember that we have hard copies of many journals (particularly older issues.).
    • If requesting an article, check library databases and/or Google Scholar for a full-text copy.
    • If requesting a book, check E-ZBorrow, which usually has faster delivery than ILL.

    Also, please try to fill out the information on your request form as completely as possible.

    How can I check the status of my ILL request?

    You can check the status of your request by logging into ILLiad and viewing your Outstanding Requests on the Main Menu.

    In what situations would an ILL request be canceled?

    If you receive a "Request Cancelled" notice, please read it carefully. The cancellation may be due to a problem that can be easily corrected. If this is the case, you may resubmit the request with the correct information. Otherwise, the cancellation notice will be accompanied by an explanation of why the item cannot be obtained. Feel free to contact the Interlibrary Loan Coordinator at 610-526-5278 or e-mail bmcill@brynmawr.edu with any questions about cancellation notices.

    How will I be notified when my item arrives?

    We will send an email to your brynmawr.edu account.

    How can I pick up my items?

  • Physical items, such as books, will be held for delivery at the Canaday Library circulation desk, and can be picked up any time the library is open. Items that have not been picked up by the due date will be returned to the lending library. ILL items are checked out in Tripod, so you will need your OneCard as you would if you were checking out Bryn Mawr books.
  • Articles delivered electronically can be accessed from ILLiad by selecting "Electronically Received Articles" in the View menu. These articles are deleted after 30 days, so make sure to save them to your own computer or print them out.

    • Can I take my ILL items out of the library?

    Most ILL books can be taken from the library. Occasionally, a lending library may request that a book be used only within our library building, usually if it is rare or fragile. We try to avoid this situation, but with some items there may be no alternative.

    How do I know when to bring an ILL book back?

    The due date will be marked on a label or paper band found on the front of the book, and will also be shown in your Tripod account. Please also note that books can be recalled by the lending library at any time. If the book is recalled, you must bring the book back immediately once you are notified.

    Can ILL books be renewed?

  • Most ILL books are eligible for renewal. Renewal requests can be placed from ILLiad. If a book is not eligible for renewal, this will be noted on the front of the book.
  • Renewals are subject to the decision of the lending library and are not guaranteed. Renewals are rarely granted more than once.

    • What happens if my ILL books are overdue?

  • ILL books that are overdue are charged $1 per day. Also, the lending library has the right to recall their books. If this happens, you will be emailed with a new due date; books not returned by this due date will also be charged $1 per day.
  • ILL books that are damaged or lost will be assessed a charge for repair or replacement as determined by the lending library.
  • Repeated problems with lateness or mistreatment of ILL items may result in loss of ILL privileges.
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