188696 views | Last updated on Aug 27, 2019
If we don't have a particular item you need, just ask for it, and we'll get you a copy from a library that does have it.
When you are in OneSearch, or using our "Search for Full Text" button, you may encounter a message that you can request delivery of an item through Interlibrary Loan. Clicking the link will take you to our Interlibrary Loan system, called ILLiad.
If it's your first time logging in to ILLiad, you'll be asked to fill out your personal information. You only need to do that once; the system will remember it from then on.
Pay careful attention to your email address, because that's where your notifications will be sent. Also, if you're enrolled at Palm Desert Campus, make sure under "Status" you tell us that's where you are.
After you submit your personal info, you should be forwarded to the request form, all filled out. All you need to do is look over the information, make sure it's correct, and hit the "Submit" button to send your request.
When your article arrives, you'll get an email telling you to log back into your ILLiad account to pick it up. (If you haven’t received an email within a few days, double-check your Spam or Junk Mail folders.)
After you login, on the main menu of ILLiad, look under View for "Electronically Received Articles." The article will be a PDF file that is yours to print or download.
If you requested a book, the email will tell you to come to the Check-Out Desk to check out the book. Books are on loan and must be returned.
Some other commonly asked questions:
Q. Does it cost anything?
A. Normally, no. ILL is a free service for CSUSB users. In the rare cases where the only available lending library would charge a fee, we would ask you whether you wanted to pay it before proceeding.
Q. How long does it take?
A. Article loans usually only take a couple of days, because they are handled entirely online. Books usually take about a week, because they must be shipped between libraries. Please note these are estimates and we cannot guarantee delivery times.
Q. Can you request the item for me?
A. No, sorry, librarians cannot make ILL requests on behalf of CSUSB users. You will need to place the request under your own account.