Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

Interlibrary Loan is a service in which library materials are made available from one library to another and ultimately to the designated library user to meet their information needs.

Current students, staff, and faculty of the University of Denver are eligible to use Interlibrary Loan. Alumni may also request material through Interlibrary Loan. You may obtain an Alumni Card at the Alumni Office.

(Law students must use the DU Law Interlibrary Loan office. Iliff students must use the Ira J. Taylor Library.)

For assistance identifying appropriate resources for research, contact a Reference Librarian.

1. Please check University Libraries Catalog or ask a Reference Librarian to be sure we do not have the item(s) you need.
2. Then, try Prospector for faster delivery of books. Prospector is a self-service, rapid delivery borrowing service.
3. Complete an Interlibrary Loan Request if needed. Request material through Interlibrary Loan if it is unavailable from University Libraries or Prospector.
    
4. Interlibrary Loan requests can be made directly from library databases using ArticleLinker. See the library guide to ArticleLinker.

If a circulating, print item is listed as AVAILABLE in the catalog, you may request it using the "Request It" button. Deliveries are made every two hours: 8am-10pm Monday-Thursday, 8am-6pm Friday, 12pm-6pm Saturday, 12pm-10pm Sunday. You will receive an email when the item is ready. Items may be picked up at the Lending Desk.

If a circulating, print item is not available according to the catalog, you may request it by clicking the "Request It" button, search Prospector, or place an Interlibrary Loan request for a copy of that item. You will be notified by email when it is ready for pickup. Items may be picked up at the Lending Desk.

Articles will be delivered to your ILL account as PDF’s that you can download, typically within 5-7 working days. Hardbound material arrives within 7-10 working days. Occasionally items may not be obtainable due to scarcity, lending policies of owning institutions, etc. Please note: the status or listing of your ILL materials will not be reflected on your main Library account. Check your ILL account by accessing it here, or through the main page of the University Libraries Catalog.

Your materials will be placed on the shelf at the Lending Desk and you will be notified by email in your WebMail account . You will need your DU ID to pick up hardbound material. Articles will be delivered electronically in PDF form to your ILL account. Note: If material is designated “In-Library Use Only,” it can only be used inside Main Library.

You can return material to the book drops or to the Lending Desk.

You must place a renewal on ILL items at least 2 days before the item is due. Simply go to your ILL account and click on the renewal button. Please note that renewals cannot always be granted. The decision is based on the lending libraries' policies.

It is important to maintain good working relationships with libraries that loan to us. Our borrowing privileges can be revoked by lending libraries if patrons do not return materials on time. Overdue materials may result in a loss of an individual’s Interlibrary Loan privileges. Charges for book replacements are determined by the lending institution and can exceed $100.00.