Finding books not available at UIUC
When attempting to find books, you can imagine the options available to you as a series of concentric circles:
The basic idea is to start in the center with the UIUC catalog, and then work your way out until you find what you need. Here are the steps:
1. VERIFYING THAT A BOOK ISN'T AVAILABLE AT UIUC
If you haven't already done so, the first step is to confirm that UIUC doesn't have a copy of the book you need. You can do this using the online catalog (see this page for tips on finding specific books).
2. REQUESTING A BOOK THROUGH ILLINET/I-SHARE
If the book you need isn't available at UIUC (it's either checked out, lost, or we just don't own it), the next step is to check I-Share (formerly ILLINET), a shared catalog for 65+ academic libraries throughout Illinois (you may also see these libraries referred to as "ILCSO" or "CARLI"). There are two methods for searching the I-Share catalog:
Following links from UIUC catalog
If you look up a book in the UIUC catalog, you will often find that UIUC owns a copy, but it's checked out. In these cases, you will see a Find copies in other I-Share libraries link next to the book's status:
Clicking this link will show you which other libraries in the I-Share catalog own the title, and whether it's available at any of them.
Similarly, if your search in the UIUC catalog doesn't turn up anything at all, you can re-run the search in the I-Share catalog by clicking the Repeat search in the I-Share catalog link:
Directly searching the I-Share catalog
You can also search the I-Share catalog directly by following this link. The procedure for searching this catalog is the same as for searching the UIUC catalog (see tips on finding specific books).
Placing the request
Once you've located the book you need, you're ready to place your request.
- Verify that a copy is available at one or more libraries:
- Click the Request button in the upper menu bar:
- Select your home library (Univ. of Illinois-UC), enter your library ID (the 20111- number on your i-Card) and last name, and click Login.
- On the next screen, click OK to confirm your request for the first available copy. (The system randomly selects an available copy.)
- On the next screen, re-enter your library ID number. You can also specify which library on campus you would like the book sent to. By default, it will be sent to the Main Stacks desk on the 2nd floor of the Main Library. (If you are a faculty member or graduate student, you can also select "UIUC Campus Mail" to have the book sent to your office address.)
- Click Submit Request.
Books usually take about 7-10 days to get here, and you will receive an email at your UIUC address when your request is available for pickup. This service is free for UIUC students and staff.
3. INTERLIBRARY LOAN: REQUESTING A BOOK NOT AVAILABLE THROUGH I-SHARE
In rare cases, you won't be able to find a book in either the UIUC catalog or the I-Share catalog. When this happens, you can request the book through Interlibrary Loan. There are two methods for placing interlibrary loan requests:
WorldCat requests
You can place interlibrary loan requests directly through WorldCat, a shared catalog for thousands of libraries throughout the world. Once you locate the item you need in WorldCat, click the Request a Loan link:
You'll then be prompted to enter your NetID and password. A form will pop up with all the details for the book already filled in; just click Submit Request to ILLiad.
Interlibrary Loan Book Request Form
You can also request books by filling out a form on the Interlibrary Loan page. From the main page, click Login to My Account:
You'll then be prompted for your NetID and password. On the next screen, click Request a Book and fill in the necessary details.
Important things to know about interlibrary loan requests:
- They usually take 2-3 weeks to arrive.
- You'll receive an email with a pickup location when the item is available.
- This service is free for UIUC students and staff.
- Interlibrary loan cannot obtain course textbooks. (If you need to use a textbook, please check with the Media and Reserves Center at the Undergraduate Library--many course texts are on reserve here.)
NEED ADDITIONAL HELP?
If you're looking for a particular article that isn't available at UIUC, see this page. If you need more help finding any kind of item, please Ask A Librarian!
