What is the VSCS Libraries interlibrary loan (ILL) system?

To support access to quality resources, the VSCS Libraries borrow material from other libraries to meet the informational needs of students, staff, and faculty.

Interlibrary loan (ILL) allows the VSCS Libraries to request materials from other libraries when the needed resources are not available within the VSCS Libraries.

The primary purpose of ILL is to support the research and educational needs of the VSC community. If we are unable to fill your request or have any questions, we will contact you through your VSC email account.

Who can use ILL? 

All current student, staff or faculty can use ILL.

Current standing is defined as:

• Actively enrolled in one or more current or upcoming classes for students
• Ongoing employment and/or scheduled for instruction for the current or upcoming semester

What types of items may not be possible to get through ILL? 

• Textbooks - (login to your University bookstore to purchase or rent) 
• Some encyclopedias, reference books, indexes, or rare books 
• Course reserve items  
• Archival materials  
• Microfilm  
• Dissertations and theses 
• Technical reports  
• Genealogy-related material  
• Physical  issues or bound volumes of periodicals, magazines or journals  
• Selected videos   Popular leisure materials especially newly published 
• eBooks 
• Streamed videos 
• Oversized items 

What can be borrowed through ILL? 

Books (whole or a scan of a chapter), Articles, DVDs 

How many items can I borrow in total at the same time? 

A current student, staff, or faculty may borrow up to 15 items total, including a maximum of 10 ILL items at once.

How long can I keep items that came from outside the VSCS libraries? 

The lending library sets the due date for interlibrary loan items. Loan periods typically range from two weeks to two months and may include the option to request a renewal. However, renewal requests must also be approved by the lending library. If a book is needed for an entire semester, please reach out to your liaison librarian.

How long does it take to get items? 

Delivery times vary depending on where the resource is coming from: 

• Books within the VSCS Libraries are shipped and typically arrive to your home campus library or to your home address within 3 to 14 days.
• Books from external libraries are first sent to your campus library for pick up or they are mailed to your home address.
• Digital resources including articles and book chapters often arrive within 48 to 72 hours of request time. 

Remote Lending Policies 

Library materials will be mailed to off-campus patrons residing in the Northeast region. For patrons outside of the Northeast, electronic delivery options including articles and book chapters will be offered instead.

What happens if an ILL item is lost or damaged? 

Once an item is borrowed from a library outside the VSCS Libraries on your behalf, you assume full financial responsibility for it. If the resource is lost or damaged, you are responsible for paying the full replacement cost and any processing fees, or for providing an approved, library-quality replacement copy for the lending library.

Copyright Declaration    

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve a violation of copyright law.  

Guidelines  

The guidelines for this service are set by the Vermont Interlibrary Loan Policy, the National Interlibrary Loan code, and the restrictions of lending libraries.