What is ILL? ILLiad?

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.

ILLiad is the online interface you use to place your requests. At Georgia Tech, this system is also used to place scan requests for items held at the Library Service Center. (For delivery of physical items from the LSC, please place requests through the GT online catalog, not ILLiad.)

If items are not available from the GT Library, GT electronic journal subscriptions, or Emory Shared Collection, requests can be placed in ILLiad: https://illiad.library.gatech.edu/

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

Current textbooks are not available through ILL.

New fiction, bestsellers, and test prep guides may not be available within the first 6 – 12 months after publication.

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.

NOTE: Harvard Business Case Studies are not available through Interlibrary Loan. However, you may purchase a copy of any case yourself for individual use directly from Harvard Business Publishing for $8.95. Go to the Harvard Business Review Store at store.hbr.org and click on 'Case Studies.'

How much does it cost?

Many items are available for free. The GT 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.

Electronic theses and dissertations from other North American institutions are available from UMI/Dissertation Express. The total cost per item is $31, but since the GT Library pays the first $25 for you, you are only charged $6 per request.

How do I submit an ILL request?

First, verify in the GT Library online catalog that the book is not available from GT 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.

If items are not available from the GT Library, GT electronic journal subscriptions, or Emory Shared Collection, requests can be placed in ILLiad: https://illiad.library.gatech.edu/

First-time users will be required to fill out a registration form. Please provide precise on-campus delivery address, if applicable. Patrons requesting delivery are responsible for knowing where their department’s mailrooms, mailboxes, or other delivery site options are.

Any changes to your status, department, or delivery address must be made manually in your ILLiad account. This information is not automatically updated. Please verify that this information is always current to ensure prompt delivery of requested items.

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.

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?

You will receive an email when the requested item is available.

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

Student 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.

Faculty and staff loans are delivered to your offices or departmental mailboxes via the LENDS delivery service, unless “Hold for Pick-up” is specifically requested. LENDS delivery can take two or three days, depending on volume of deliveries. If you do not receive your items within this specified period, please check your departmental mailroom and/or main building front desk. Not all offices are accessible to LENDS delivery staff.

Can I renew my book?

Renewals are at the discretion of the lending library. If no renewals are permitted, it will usually be noted on the book-strap label. If renewals are allowed, you may request one renewal through your ILLiad account, by using the “Renew Request” link at the top of the request record. This link will only be available for 7 days prior to the due date. If the lending library accepts the renewal request, you will receive an email with the new due date. If the renewal is denied, you will receive an email reminding you to return the item by its original due date.

Please do not submit a new request via ILLiad to renew an item you already have. Call or email the ILL office with renewal questions.

How do I return my loans?

Loans may be returned to the INFODesk, located on the Grove Level of Price Gilbert or given to a Library INFODesk staff member.

Faculty and staff may request LENDS pick-up by filling out the form at: http://www.library.gatech.edu/lends

What if my ILL is overdue?

Your ILLiad account will be blocked if you have any loan more than 14 days overdue. You will not be able to place any new requests until the overdue item is returned.

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 GT 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
  • Fees for this service range from free to $15 or more. Please contact us for specific costs and payment options.
  • Please return physical items to: Library Service Center/1260 Briarcliff Road/Atlanta, GA 30306

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

  • Email delivery@library.gatech.edu – Please use subject heading: Interlibrary Loan Request
  • Fees are usually $15 and require pre-payment via credit card at our secure storefront website.
  • We do not loan books to individuals. Please place requests for books with your local public library.
  • Please Note: Your local public library's fees may be lower than ours, even if they are requesting items from the GT Library collection. We supply scans to public libraries at a reduced rate.