To request a book, article, thesis, or other resource from another library:
For journal and magazine articles - Search the Library's article databases, locate items you want, check to see if MSU owns, and use the "get article or book" button to populate an interlibrary loan request form.
For books and other materials - Search WorldCat, found in the Library's database list, check to see if MSU owns, and use the "get article or book" button to populate an interlibrary loan request form.
If you prefer to fill in a blank ILL request form, check first to see that MSU does not have the item you want. However, if you use the procedures above (see "For journal and magazine articles..." and "For books...") most of the ILL request form will be filled in for you.
All interlibrary loan notices will be sent to your campus email account so be sure to check your mail on a regular basis.
Receiving periodical articles
Most interlibrary loan articles will be posted to a website. You will receive an email notice explaining how to retrieve an article, when it is available. You have 7 days and 5 tries to retrieve your article from the website. If a lending library sends your article in paper format, then we will mail the article to you, so please keep us up-to-date regarding your current address!
Receiving books, videos, and other "returnables"
ILL books, videos, and other loaned items can be picked up at Library Circulation on first floor. You will receive an email notice when interlibrary loaned items are available to pick up. Also, you can check the status of your requests through the library catalog by logging into Your Borrowing Record.
Delivery for faculty and staff
ILL books and other returnables are sent to your campus address unless you indicate you wish to pick them up at Library Circulation. Most articles are posted to a website.
ILL books must be returned at Library Circulation or the ILL office on first floor. Do not return interlibrary loans in the Library book drops.
Please provide a complete and accurate citation for each item that you request.
You are responsible for the prompt return and care of borrowed materials. You will be billed for lost, damaged, or overdue materials. Do not allow others to use your Mavcard to borrow library materials.
Some items may be renewed, depending on the policy of the lending library.
Number of active requests are limited to 50 for all patrons.
You can request articles beyond these limits after they have been posted to a website. Books and other items must be returned to the lending library before you can make requests beyond the limits. Requests for increased limits are granted, based on need.
Memorial Library absorbs the cost of obtaining materials through interlibrary loan, except in rare cases when the supplier requires prepayment.
You can check the status of your ILL requests by logging into Your Borrowing Record.
What does this status code mean?
You will be notified about any request that cannot be filled.
Renewal decisions for ILL items are made by the lending libraries, not MSU. You will receive an email notice and a new due date if the renewal is granted.
Use any of the following methods to request a renewal.
Lending libraries determine loan periods; many libraries will lend books for two to three weeks. Find your due date on the bookmark attached to the item you borrowed or you can check Your Borrowing Record in the Library's catalog to see the due date and status of items you have borrowed.
A turn-around-time study conducted last year revealed that the average turn-around-time, from submission to receipt of the item for articles was 4.14 days. The average turn-around-time for books was 8.27 days. These are average times only and may vary a good deal, but most requests for books or articles are filled in 1-3 weeks.
ILL will attempt to fill your request UNTIL your "not needed after" date has past, so give us as much time as you have available.
You may request articles from journals and magazines, books, videos and other media, government publications, conference papers, and theses and dissertations through ILL. Usually lending libraries will scan or copy articles rather than send a whole issue of a periodical. You cannot borrow films or software through interlibrary loan as these materials are not lent from MSU to other libraries. Libraries seldom lend rare, fragile, or unique items that would be difficult or impossible to replace.
If you are a student who lives 30 miles or more from campus, you can have MSU books and interlibrary loan books sent to you. Also, you can have articles from MSU or other libraries’ collections posted to a website. Click on Document Delivery for more information about this service.
You can contact the ILL Office at (507) 389-1473 or 389-5959, or the Reference Desk at (507) 389-5958 when you have questions about Interlibrary Loan.
Are you contacting us from another library? Check out the MSU Interlibrary loan policies and procedures for other libraries.
The ILL office hours during the academic year are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Summer hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
