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Research Skills: Interlibrary Loan

Thesis and Applied Project Help

Interlibrary Loan

How to place an ILL request:
Check to see if that the item is not already available through our catalogue or databases. Next check to see if the item is available at AIT by searching their catalogue at https://library.ait.ie/. Alternately search libraries worldwide through WorldCat. Keep in mind we won't have access to everything available worldwide, but we will try our best. 

Request an ILL by sending an email to library@independentcolleges.ie including the following information (feel free to copy and paste into an email). Items marked with an asterisk or * are required for completing an ILL request on your behalf. Please include as much information as possible:

Your Full Name*
Your Student/Faculty Card Number*
Your Email*
Phone Number*
Item Format*
Author/Artist*
Title*

If known please also include the following information:

Publication Date 
Publisher
ISBN

FAQ

How long do I have to wait before my ILL request is filled?
Please request early and allow two-three weeks for your request to be filled. Library staff at Independent College do not fulfill the request, instead, we check other libraries and email their staff to see if it's available. It is at the discretion of the library staff at other institutions to find the material and lend it to us. For this reason, not every request will be fulfilled.

What can be requested?
Books
Copies of articles from magazines, newspapers or conference proceedings
Photocopies of specific information from non-circulating books

What is the loan period for ILLs?
Loan periods are set by the lending library and are two or three weeks. Please return materials promptly. Renewals are not allowed and items may not be re-requested for a three month period. Lending libraries may place restrictions on the use of their materials, for example, “Library use only.”

What are the charges when using ILL?
There is no charge for using the service unless you are requesting a thesis through repositories such as EThOS, Proquest, or Library and Archives Canada.  Overdue fines for ILLs are €1 a day.

What is not available through ILL?
Audiovisual materials (CDs, audiotapes, CDROMs, videocassettes, DVDs)
Non-circulating/reference materials
Books published in the current or previous year
Items priced under €10 
Magazines, except photocopies of specific articles
Rare, old or fragile books
Computer software and computer game
eBooks or other electronic resources
Leisure reading material
Archival material
Entire periodical issues (must request specific articles)