It is the responsibility of the Gingrich Library to provide research materials to all Albright College students in a timely manner. The following interlibrary loan guidelines will help to ensure that the students' need for quality materials will be met.
1. Requests will be accepted via ILLiad (the interlibrary loan management software used by Albright College Library). All students are encouraged to obtain an account. This software works in two ways:
- the ILL Request link in the databases that automatically fills in the forms with information from the database
- typing in a request directly into ILLiad
2. Renewals can be made on a case by case basis
3. Pickup of requested library materials:
- For students enrolled in classes at the Reading campus, interlibrary loans that are not sent electronically will be held for pickup at the circulation desk of the Gingrich Library. Students must bring a current ID, with a library barcode attached, to pickup the materials. NOTE: Special arrangements to mail items may be approved by the Supervisor of the Interlibrary Loan Department for those times of the academic year when the library is on an abbreviated schedule.
- For students enrolled in classes at remote campuses, interlibrary loans that are not sent electronically will be mailed or faxed unless other arrangements are made, e.g., the faculty member teaching the course agrees to deliver materials to the class meeting and is responsible for seeing that the materials are returned.
4. Some requested materials may not be interlibrary loaned:
- If the Gingrich Library owns the materials requested, students enrolled at the Reading campus are expected to come to the library to make photocopies or check out needed materials. NOTE: Special arrangements to mail, make electronic copies or fax items may be approved by the Supervisor of the Interlibrary Loan Department for those times of the academic year when the library is on an abbreviated schedule.
- If the Gingrich Library has electronic access to the materials, students will be given a URL or instructions on how to access the information. Students unable to obtain the materials at home or in the dorm will be expected to use the main library or remote site classroom computers to access the information.
- Interlibrary loan does not request the same title more than once, in the same semester, for the same student (outside of the standard renewal request procedures) without permission from a librarian.
- Interlibrary loan services were established to assist students and faculty with borrowing supplementary materials for class-related research. Excessive and exorbitant use of the interlibrary loan system for personal use may lead to ILL request rejection for requests not of educational nature.
- Dissertations are not requested without permission of a librarian.
- Textbooks are not borrowed from other libraries through interlibrary loan services. In particular, students often need textbooks for longer than most interlibrary loan periods allow. It is expected that students will acquire the required texts for their courses by purchasing them through the college bookstore or other bookstores.
- If the requested item is in a foreign language, the library has the right to request faculty approval for the loan, assuming the information is available via interlibrary loan.
- If the item is not available from the regular interlibrary loan network.
5. The format of delivery is at the discretion of the ILL department.
- Items received in electronic format will be delivered in electronic format, unless the Supervisor for ILL has made an exception.
- Students unable to obtain electronic materials at home or in the dorm will be expected to use the main library or remote site classroom areas to access the information.
Interlibrary loan questions should be directed to the Interlibrary Loan Department at 610-921-7209. Please direct all other questions to the Reference Desk at 610-921-7211 or libraryref@albright.edu.
Effective Date: August 20, 2005
Last Revised: Jan 20, 2014
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Last updated on January 20, 2014
