What is ILL?

ILL stands for Interlibrary Loan. It is a service provided to request materials (books, journal articles, research papers, etc.) not owned by your home Library from other institutions around the world. Interlibrary loan services are integrated into the GT Library catalog search.  Begin your research within the catalog - library.gatech.edu ILL options will be presented if the material is not available within our own collection.
 

Who is eligible for Interlibrary Loan (ILL)?

Current Georgia Tech students, faculty, and staff may use this service.

See also:

What materials are (& aren’t) available through ILL?

Generally available:

  • Books
  • Journal articles
  • Book chapters
  • Conference papers
  • Theses/dissertations

Not available:

  • Current textbooks
  • Industry standards
  • Harvard Business Case Studies

New fiction, bestsellers, and test prep guides may not be available within the first 6 – 12 months after publication.  GT students, faculty, and staff are eligible for borrowing privileges at the Fulton County Public Library.  You can sign up for a Fulton County library card anytime at one of the public library branch locations or on-campus during one of the semi-annual library card drives. This may be a better option for more popular novel requests. 

Many electronic theses and dissertations from other North American institutions are available from UMI/Dissertation Express. Please check subscription access before submitting an ILL request.  If a UMI thesis is not already available via our subscription, the total cost per item is $31. Since the Library subsidizes the first $25 for you, you are only charged $6 per request.  

Videos, DVDs, CDs, and microforms (fiche or reels) may be requested, but often have “Library Use Only” or other restrictions if they are supplied. 

Rare, old, or internationally-held books may occasionally be obtained, but there may be additional time, cost, and/or borrowing restrictions. 

Bound journal volumes or complete issues cannot be borrowed, although we may be able to obtain tables of contents. Please identify any individual article that you would like copied or scanned.
 

How much does it cost?

Many items are available for free. The Library subsidizes up to $25 per item on your behalf. Any fees in excess of this amount are your responsibility. If there is a fee, you will be notified prior to the staff placing the final order. You must agree to pay the balance before we can proceed with the request.
 

How do I submit an ILL request?

Interlibrary loan services are integrated into the GT Library catalog search. 

First, verify in the Library online catalog that the book is not available from the Institute or Emory or that we do not have an electronic journal subscription for the article required. Items held in the Library Service Center (LSC) or as part of the Emory Shared Collection may be requested using the Request Options: “Request” or Emory University: “Available” links in the online catalog records. 

Please provide the most complete citation possible. The more information you provide, the quicker and more accurate this service will be. 

Please submit one item per request form. If more than one item is submitted on a single form, only the first item listed will be requested. Multiple requests from a single journal title may be subject to additional copyright fees. Only one chapter scan may be requested per book. If you need additional chapters, please submit as a physical book loan request.
 

How long does it take?

  • Over 75% of all interlibrary loan requests are filled in less than a week.
  • Most articles can be supplied within 24 to 48 hours – not including weekends or holidays.
  • Most book loans can be supplied within 3 to 5 days – not including weekends or holidays.
  • Rare or popular items may take longer.
  • Please respond promptly to requests from the ILL office for additional information or clarification to ensure the quickest service possible.
     

Why is my request taking longer to arrive than I expected?

Here are some common reasons for delayed arrival:

  • Item was recently published and may not be readily available from other libraries yet
  • Rare or unusual items/format
  • Request was made during a holiday period
  • ILL request form is incomplete or inaccurate
  • You turned in more than 10 ILL requests in one day, and the requests had to be processed over several days so that all ILL users were served in a timely manner
     

How are items delivered?

All journal articles are supplied electronically. They will be available through your Library account for 30 days after receipt. After 30 days, articles are deleted from the server and cannot be retrieved.

Loans are available for pick-up at the Main Library. Please notify a Library INFODesk staff member that you have an Interlibrary Loan item to pick up.
 

Can I renew my book?

Renewals are at the discretion of the lending library. If it is allowed, there will be a renewal option in your library account. Please do not submit a new request to renew an item you already have. Contact the ILL office with renewal questions at delivery@library.gatech.edu.
 

How do I return my loans?

Loans may be returned in one of three bookdrops: 

  • across from the INFODesk, located on the grove level of Price Gilbert
  • near the grove level entrance of Crosland
  • on Clough 3, right outside the transition to PG Ground
     

What if my ILL is overdue?

Your library account will be blocked if you have any loan more than 14 days overdue. 
 

What if my ILL is lost or damaged?

If an Interlibrary Loan item is lost, long overdue, or damaged while checked out to your account, you will be assessed replacement and/or damage fees by the lending library. Damaged materials will be returned to the lending library for evaluation. Any fees charged by the lending library for lost or damaged materials will be applied to your library account. Although some institutions accept new replacement books in lieu of payment, please verify with the ILL office before purchasing a replacement copy.
 

How do I contact the Interlibrary Loan office?

You can email ILL staff at delivery@library.gatech.edu. Office hours are 8am-4pm, Monday-Friday.
 

Info for everyone except current students, faculty, or staff

Academic, public, and corporate libraries may place requests via:

  • OCLC [symbol = GAT]
  • Email delivery@library.gatech.edu – Please use subject heading: Interlibrary Loan Request
  • Please return physical items to: Library Service Center/1260 Briarcliff Road/Atlanta, GA 30306

Individuals may place requests for Institute-owned journal articles or thesis/dissertation scans via:

  • Email delivery@library.gatech.edu – Please use subject heading: Interlibrary Loan Request
  • We do not loan books to individuals. Please place requests for books with your local public library.