First time using ILL? Please read the FAQs below before placing your request! Or, if you already know what you're doing, log into your JWU Library Account to see your ILL requests or submit a new one.

1. What is Interlibrary Loan?

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a system for requesting items that are not currently available at Johnson & Wales University.

2. What types of items are requested?

Books, journal articles, newspaper articles, book chapters, theses and dissertations may be requested.

Generally, libraries do not lend the following materials through Interlibrary Loan: textbooks, entire journal issues, newspapers, videos, reference materials and reserve materials.

3. Who can use this service?

• Any current JWU student**, faculty or staff:
  •  with a current Johnson & Wales University Library barcode;
  •  who has no overdue library items or outstanding library fines.

**NOTE: online-only students and alumni may request non-returnable items only, i.e. digitized content or photocopies.

4. How long does it take?

While ILL requests may be submitted electronically, they are mediated by human librarians on either end of the transaction and are subject to their working hours and ability to physically process those requests. Once a request has been reviewed and submitted by JWU, it moves through a string of potential lending libraries one at a time with each library having a set amount of time to respond to that request. A string may have up to 15 potential lending libraries and so a request moving through that string one at a time might take up to a month to exhaust all potential lending institutions.

As a general rule of thumb:

• Books and photocopied articles may take two to three weeks to arrive.
• Articles available in digital format are typically delivered in about a week, but can take longer.

PLEASE NOTE: Most articles come with an expiration date both for number of times viewed and time passed since delivered. To avoid losing your article, please download it with a name you will remember as soon as it arrives.

5. Will it cost me anything?

Most requests are filled free of charge.

Any fees charged by the lending library will be passed on to the borrower.

If there will be a charge, the borrower will be notified of the amount in advance, and will have the opportunity to opt out of requesting the item.

6. When will I know that it has arrived?

Borrowers are notified by a system-generated email when the material arrives. Returnable items will be held at the Circulation Desk of the designated pick-up location for 10 days. Electronic items will be available for download from the borrower's library account portal. (Log in using JWU credentials and follow the instructions given for downloading.) Please note that articles available for download will have an expiration date and a limit to the number of downloads permitted. Download any articles requested right away to avoid losing access to them.

7. Can I request theses & dissertations from other Universities?

                    a. If it is a JWU-Dissertation:

   - Search ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 

   - Request Dissertation by contacting Lisa Spicola at lspicola@jwu.edu

b. Non-JWU Dissertation:

   - Search the Library Catalog:

   - Click “Request through Interlibrary Loan”.

   - Fill in all requested information.

   - For items that aren’t found in the WorldCat Catalog, please see section 9. "How do I submit

     an ILL Request” below.

8. Can I request a copy of my class textbook?

You can request a copy of your class textbook but you may not be successful. Generally, if a textbook is on reserve here, it’s on reserve at other libraries as well, and will not be shared through Interlibrary Loan. If you are unsuccessful obtaining the latest edition, you could also try requesting an older edition. Please keep in mind that Interlibrary Loan item due dates are set by the lending library and renewals are not guaranteed. You will most likely have to return your Interlibrary Loaned textbook before the end of the term.

9. How do I submit an ILL Request?

• Books and other physical items:
  • Search using the Everything tab on the library homepage.
  • If the item you are looking for is not available at JWU for immediate use, scroll to “Availability.”
    • If the item is available at a HELIN library, click the “Request It” button and fill in the information requested. 
    • If there are no HELIN libraries listed under “Availability” please scroll to “Request through Interlibrary Loan” and fill in all requested information.
  • Please use your JWU email address and your library barcode beginning with 25154. If you need additional assistance, contact a librarian.
• Journal articles
  • Search using the Everything tab on the library homepage. It may help to put quotation marks around the title when searching.
    • If you are unsuccessful, try searching the title of the journal.
  • If the article or journal is available through JWU, click the links provided to locate the article.
  • If the article or journal is not available through JWU, click the “Request through Interlibrary Loan” button and fill in the form, using the notes field for the article information if it is not filled in automatically.
• If you need assistance, contact a librarian.
• If the item is not found in the WorldCat Online Catalog, you may fill out a form and submit it. There are separate forms for books and for journal articles. Please use the library catalog to request Interlibrary Loans whenever possible as it will pre-fill the majority or necessary information for you, but be sure to double-check for completeness before you submit in order to minimize the amount of time it takes to get your request processed.

Need some assistance with the process? Please speak with a reference librarian or contact the interlibrary loan office at 401-598-1842 or by email at PVD.ILL@jwu.edu.

10. How do I request a renewal?

You can request a renewal for your Interlibrary Loan items by logging into your library account and requesting a renewal. The requests can take time and are not guaranteed so it is advised that you request any/all renewals 4 days prior to the due date. Please don’t try to renew Interlibrary Loan items through the Library Circulation Desk. They are not able to renew ILL items. You may also request renewals through the ILL office by phone at 401-598-1842 or by email. You will need to provide your name, the title of the book and the barcode on the white band from the front of the book.

11. What else do I need to know about Interlibrary Loans?

- For returnable Interlibrary Loans, items not picked up within 10 days will be returned.

- Please do not remove the paper band with the tracking information. It helps us get the book checked in and off your account and back to the lending library more easily.

- Please return or request renewals of Interlibrary Loan items by the due date. Overdue ILLs jeopardize our ability to obtain future loans. Repeated overdue Interlibrary Loans will result in the loss of ILL privilege.