Check out (Request) books online
Please Note: requests take a minimum of 5-10 working days (for books not at UIUC) and 2 working days (for books at UIUC) to be delivered. If the book you want is on campus, it is usually much faster to pick it up in person then to request it online.
Making Requests
If you find an item you want in either the UIUC online catalog or the statewide catalog, I-Share, you can request it (check it out) online and have it held for you or sent to the UIUC library of your choice. Graduate students, staff, and faculty can have materials sent to their offices by campus mail. These services are free to UIUC patrons.
1. To place a request, first find the item you want in one of the catalogs.
2. Click the "request" link in the top right-hand corner of the page.
3. On the page that appears, you must choose your “Home Library” (for example, UI at Urbana-Champaign), enter the 14 digit library borrower ID from your ID card (a number that starts with 2011…) and enter your last name.
4. If the system accepts your information, you will be asked to enter your library borrower ID again (this is necessary for security) and make some choices on a form, including where on the UIUC campus you want the item sent (the Undergrad is an option) and a date after which you no longer need the item. A detailed PDF format handout on requesting items through I-Share is available here.
5. You will receive an email when the books is ready to be picked up. The email will also tell you which library on campus the book is at.
Note that if an item is checked out, noncirculating, or otherwise unavailable, your request for it will be refused. Items you need that are not available at UIUC or through I-Share can generally be obtained through Interlibrary Loan.
If you are having problems placing a request online, please ask for help.
