Wellesley College Library - InterLibrary Loan

InterLibrary Loan Information

The purpose of interlibrary loan is

to borrow or obtain copies of library materials not found in the local collection on behalf of our faculty, students and staff
to lend or provide copies of library materials requested by other libraries.

No library can be completely self-sufficient in meeting the needs of its users. Interlibrary loan is essential to the vitality of libraries of all types and sizes. It is an important element in the provision of library service, and it is in the public interest to encourage such an exchange. This is an age of expanding information, a growing technology for sharing that information, and ever-increasing standards for scholarly and scientific endeavor.

Delivery Methods

The InterLibrary Loan staff strives to provide materials in the fastest possible method. Some of these methods are hidden to the user. Therefore you may not always receive your item through the same service a request was initiated. For example, an article initially requested through NExpress that is not available, will be routed to the ILL loan to be filled.

Fequently Asked Questions


What can be borrowed	Books, some videos and recordings	Books, videos, recordings, etc. Journal articles	Journal articles, book chapters, etc. Books, videos, recordings, etc.
Who can use	Current faculty, staff, and students with a valid OneCard
How long does it take	2-4 days	2-4 days	2-14 days
How will I know it's here	Email notification will be sent when your item has arrived for pickup at the Clapp Circulation Desk. If your item is delivered electronically, the email will contain viewing instructions. If it has been a long time, contact ILL staff.
Where do I pick up and return material	Clapp Circulation Desk
What are the loan policies	28 days NO renewals	28 days 2 renewals Renew these items online through "My Library Account " on the Library's Home page	28 days 1 renewal usually allowed If a renewal is necessary, login to ILL and go to the "Checked Out Items" button to renew. Paper copies are yours to keep.
	If a renewal is not possible, you may place another request for an item. Please do not keep an item overdue as it affects Wellesley College Library's borrowing reputation. All interlibrary loan books are subject to immediate RECALL by the lending library.
How do I request	Login with your 16-digit OneCard number Search and directly request items from the owning institute See How to use the Virtual Catalog	From the Wellesley Library catalog you may repeat a search in NExpress with the link found on the results page or go directly to http://nexpress.iii.com/	First you must create an ILL account. Then login, choose the appropriate form to fill out and submit your request.
Where things coming from	15 academic libraries and branches of the Boston Library Consortium	7 New England academic libraries	Libraries Worldwide
Questions or Problems	vcatalog@wellesley.edu or dkatzif@wellesley.edu	nexpress@wellesley.edu or dkatzif@wellesley.edu	Call the InterLibrary Loan office at 781-283-2101 or send email to ILL@wellesley.edu

Karen Jensen • Kara S. Hart • Wellesley College Library • Last Updated: July 2007