Q: What is interlibrary loan (ILL) and how do I use it?
Answer
Interlibrary loan (ILL) is a resource sharing practice between libraries, on behalf of patrons. The KSU Libraries ILL service allows Kennesaw State University faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students to request books, articles, and other materials that are not part of our collections. Once our KSU Libraries Resource Sharing Team receives a request, they get to work searching for a library who can provide the materials.
ILLiad is the system we use to manage interlibrary loan requests. You may log into your account here. First time users should simply log into the location they would like to set as their “home” location with their KSU Net ID and password.
ILL service is free to KSU students, faculty, and staff members! However, article requests can get expensive. We may reach out to you about particularly costly article requests to confirm they are truly necessary for your research.
How to request materials through ILL:
Before placing a request, first check whether the item is available in the Library Catalog. For books, also check whether the item is available through the University System of Georgia Catalog, if they are, you will receive these books faster by placing a GIL Express request.
To place a request, login to ILLiad with your KSU Net ID and password. Place a separate request for each item by choosing the request type from the New Request menu. You can also place requests using the FindIt@KSU button in most databases and the Request via Interlibrary Loan (ILL) link in the library catalog.
When your request arrives, we will email you. Books usually take 7 to 10 days to arrive, and articles usually take 3 to 4 days. However, there are a number of determining factors, such as the item's availability and the distance of the lending library. ILL recommends that patrons allow up to three weeks to receive items.
