Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

General information

What is Interlibrary Loan and who can use it?

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a service that allows COCC students, faculty, staff and community patrons to request articles, books and DVDs from other libraries, free of charge.

What is the difference between Summit and Interlibrary Loan?

Summit items come from academic libraries in the Pacific Northwest. ILLs come from public or academic libraries throughout the United States.

How do I request articles?

Articles that cannot be viewed in full in Library subscription databases may be requested through ILL and usually take 4-48 hours to arrive electronically.

Checking out interlibrary loans

How will I know when my requested items arrive?

By email.

How long can I keep my Summit item?

Twelve (12) weeks.

How long can I keep my ILL item?

It depends on the lending library’s loan period, which is generally three or four weeks. The due date will be on the label that is on the item.

Renewing interlibrary loans

What if I need an item longer?

You can request renewal of an ILL item by logging into your ILL account, looking at your checked out items, selecting the item you want to renew, and clicking on Renew Request. If approved, the due date will update on your account. If denied, you will need to bring the item back as soon as you can.

Textbooks

Can I get my textbooks through the library?

Many textbooks are available as course reserves and can be checked out for in-library use only for three hours at a time. If Barber Library does not have your textbook on reserve, we suggest you ask your instructor to provide a reserves copy of the textbook to the Library.

Textbooks are difficult to obtain through ILL. If you request a textbook through Summit or ILL, your request will probably not be filled and you will receive a cancellation notice by email. If you are lucky enough to receive a textbook through ILL, you may receive an earlier edition than the one required by your instructor. Also, the loan period will be about three to four weeks with perhaps one renewal period. That means you will need to return the textbook before the term ends.

Delivery times

How long does it take to receive an article?

Most articles arrive electronically within 4-48 hours. You will receive an email when it arrives.

How long does it take to receive a Summit item?

Summit items take two to three business days to arrive at Barber Library. If you are located at the Redmond, Prineville or Madras campuses, add one business day. You will receive an email when the Summit item arrives and is ready to pick up.

How long does it take to receive a book or DVD through ILL?

ILLs come from all over the U.S. and usually take one week to arrive. You will receive an email when the ILL item arrives and is ready to pick up.

Cost

What does it cost to request items through Interlibrary Loan?

Nothing.

Should I pay money for an article I found on the Internet?

No. You can get most articles for free through COCC. If you have the article’s citation through your Internet search, simply look for the article on the COCC Barber Library articles searching page. If the full-text is available, click on it to view the article. If the full-text version is unavailable, click on Request from Another Library to place an Interlibrary Loan request. The article should arrive within one or two business days.

Fines

Are there any fines?

There are no overdue fines for Summit or ILL items. However, if you lose or damage a Summit or ILL item, you will be charged a replacement cost (see more info on our fines page).

Canceled or unfilled requests

Why was my request canceled?

While we try our hardest, it is not possible to fill every single ILL request, for a variety of reasons. These reasons include: (1) the item is checked out; (2) the item is rare or is a material type that most libraries will not loan to other libraries (microfilm, for example); (3) it will cost money to obtain; (4) licensing agreements prevent libraries from lending certain items; (5) library policies prevent certain items from being loaned to other libraries (items on course reserves, for example); (6) the item has not been published yet.

If an item appears in the online catalog, why can’t you get it for me?

Online catalogs show holdings, not availability. A book may be owned by a library and appears in the online catalog but may be unavailable because it is checked out to someone else.

Ask questions or get help

Interlibrary Loan Department (See on map)
COCC Barber Library, Room 111
2600 NW College Way
Bend, OR 97703
(541) 383-7561
ill@cocc.edu