Library

Interlibrary Loan, or ILL, is the process through which books and periodical articles not owned by the IU Northwest Library are obtained for patrons. If there is a book or article that you need but which is not available locally, it should be possible to get it through Interlibrary Loan. Forms to use when requesting ILL materials are available by the Reference Desk. Fill the form out as completely as possible and then leave it in the box on the counter. You will be called (and a card is usually sent) when your materials are available.

When filling out the forms, do your best to fill in the area labelled "Where did you find this information" as this is extraordinarily helpful to the ILL staff in the event that some of the information you give is incorrect. If we have trouble finding your article, with this information we can check to see if the citation you gave us is correct, thus saving all the time that we would spend contacting you, asking you to recheck the citation, amd so on.

The library prides itself on the speed and efficiency of our Interlibrary loan department. On average, we can have a book or article available for you to pick up about 5 working days after you submit the request. But remember that this is the average time. Since an ILL request may take longer, please try to allow at least 2 weeks for us to get the materials for you. Finally, we do ask that you try to limit your requests to those materials you are confident that you will actually need.

Interlibrary Loan explanation of policies and frequently asked questions are available but should you have additional questions, please ask a reference librarian or call the Interlibrary Loan Department at 219-980-6933.