SAIS Library Interlibrary Loan Service Frequently Asked Questions
Return to Logon Page- Who can borrow?
- What can I borrow?
- How long does it take?
- What are the loan periods?
- Can I renew?
- Are there any fees?
- How many requests can I submit?
- What is ILLiad?
- How is ILLiad different from the SAIS Library's old interlibrary loan system?
- Why do I need a username and password?
- What if I forget my password?
- What if I am working as a research assistant?
- What Web browser should I use?
- Is security a problem if I use a public workstation?
- Why don't I see all my older requests when I look at my request history?
- What is Electronic Delivery?
- Who do I contact if I have problems with or questions about interlibrary loan?
SAIS Library Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service is available to:SAIS Library Interlibrary Loan service is not available to:
- SAIS faculty and staff
- Currently registered SAIS students
- SAIS visiting scholars appointed by the Academic Dean or the Foreign Policy Institute.
Individuals who are not eligible for SAIS interlibrary loan service should check with their respective divisions or home libraries about access to non-JHU materials.
- Students, faculty, and staff of other JHU divisions, including those with the DC-based School of Arts and Sciences and Carey School of Business; staff and fellows of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies; and staff and fellows of the Center for the Study of American Government.
- Alumni
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Materials SAIS Interlibrary Loan can obtain for you include:
- Books not owned by JHU Libraries
- Books that are owned by SAIS but are missing, at the bindery, or long overdue.
- Periodical articles that are not available in print or electronically at the SAIS Library.
Materials SAIS interlibrary loan cannot obtain for you include:
- Reference materials (with some exceptions)
- Forthcoming books
- Books that are available at SAIS, including reserve books
- Books that are owned by JHU libraries, but are checked out. In this case, we will simply recall the book for you.
- Entire issues or volumes of periodicals or newspapers (with some exceptions). If you need an entire issue or volume, please speak to a reference librarian.
How long does it take to fill a request?
The average length of time needed to receive books via interlibrary loan is 10-14 days. Journal articles often arrive much more quickly, but we encourage you to plan ahead to give yourself and the Interlibrary Loan staff plenty of time!
- Books: Loan periods for books are generally between two and four weeks and are at the discretion of the lending institutions. Always check the due date on the slip in which the book is wrapped.
- Photocopies obtained through interlibrary loan will be delivered to you electronically whenever possible. If you receive a hard copy, it is yours to keep.
Although some libraries will not renew interlibrary loans, most will renew for at least two weeks. You can request a renewal by logging in to your SAIS Library Interlibrary loan account, clicking on Checked Out Items, and then selecting the Transaction Number. Please be sure to do so before the item is due, as most libraries will not renew overdue items.
Are there any fees for interlibrary loan materials?
Books: In most cases, there is no charge to the user for borrowing a book on interlibrary loan. Some libraries do, however, charge a fee (averaging $15) for the loan of books. Although we do everything possible to avoid such charges, if there is no alternative source we will pass the charges along to you, but only with your prior approval.
Photocopies: Every effort is made to obtain photocopies of articles from libraries that do not charge, but if this is not possible, we will need to ask you if you will be willing to pay up to $15 for any photocopying and processing charges. Most libraries charge a handling fee in addition to the cost of copying.
Overdue/lost interlibrary loan materials: Many libraries will send an invoice for the replacement cost plus substantial charges for overdue books. In addition, many will suspend our borrowing privileges if we fail to return books on time. Please be careful to return interlibrary loan materials on time to avoid such penalties.
How many requests can I submit?
You may place any number of requests. However, large numbers of requests may be spaced out over several days.
How is ILLiad different from the SAIS Library's old interlibrary loan system?ILLiad is the system the JHU Libraries use to manage interlibrary loans. It is an acronym for InterLibrary Loan internet accessible database.
- ILLiad requires that you create your own account. This enables you to submit interlibrary loan requests without re-entering your name, e-mail address and other personal information.
- ILLiad enables us to deliver many of your photocopy requests to you electronically.
- ILLiad allows you to log on to your account and check the status of your requests via the Web at any time.
- ILLiad allows you to view information about your past requests, back to July 2006, when the University adopted the ILLiad system. If you need information about requests you submitted prior to July 2006, contact the SAIS Library Interlibrary Loan office at 202-663-5908 or saisill@jhu.edu.
Why do I need a username and password for the SAIS Library's Interlibrary Loan service?
Your username and password allow us to give you secure access to information about your interlibrary loan requests. We can also enable you to edit your personal information such as your address or phone number.
Your username can be anything you like, such as your name, abbreviations, an alphanumeric code. You may want to use your JHED username. Your password also can be anything you like. We recommend that you follow good security practice and choose a password that is different from those you use to access other systems. However, no one but you will know your password, not even the library staff.
If you forget your password, go to the SAIS Interlibrary Loan Logon page and click on Forgot Password. Enter your username and click on Reset Password. You will then receive an e-mail message which contains a link that you must click on in order to change your password. If you have any questions, please contact the SAIS Library Interlibrary Loan Office at (202) 663-5908 or at saisill@jhu.edu.
What if I am working as a research assistant? How can I submit requests on behalf of the professor I am working for and be notified when materials arrive?
Discuss this with the professor and choose one of the following options:
- Use the professor's login and password.
Note that:
- This will enable you and the professor to view all current and past requests in one place.
- You will need to include your own name in the designated place on each of the requests you submit.
- You will need to edit the professor's account to add your own e-mail address if you want to be notified about interlibrary loan arrivals, cancellations, etc. Each account can accommodate up to three e-mail addresses. - Ask the professor to create an account
using his/her name but with the word proxy
(without parentheses or quotation marks)
after his/her last name, or to give you the username and
password if a proxy account has already been created. Note
that:
- To search the status of current requests and to find information about past requests, the professor will need to search two separate accounts.
- You will need to include your own name in the designated place on each of the requests you submit.
- You will need to edit the proxy account to include your own e-mail address if you want to be notified about interlibrary loan arrivals, cancellations, etc. Each account can accommodate up to three e-mail addresses.
What web browser should I use?
You need a Web browser that can handle forms, tables, and, preferably, one that can handle frames. We recommend either Netscape Navigator version 3.0 or greater or Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3.0 or greater. Both browsers are available for the Windows 3.x, Windows 95 or NT, and Macintosh O/S operating systems. Netscape Navigator is available for UNIX.
Is security a problem if I use a public workstation?
Yes. Web browsers cache information and create a history file on the local workstation. This allows a subsequent user of the workstation to access the system under your name using the browser's Back button. If you are concerned about the security of your interlibrary loan requests, you can take the following steps:
- Access the SAIS Library Interlibrary Loan system only from your personal computer or an otherwise secure workstation.
- When using a public access workstation:
- Delete from the history file those pages that contain your personal information.
- Exit from the Web browser before you leave the workstation. This prevents the Back button from accessing the pages you were using.
Why don't I see all my older requests when I look at my request history?
The SAIS Library began using the ILLiad system in July 2006. Interlibrary loan requests completed prior to that date are stored on another system.
Many libraries ship photocopies of articles to us in electronic format. In the past we printed these articles before delivering them to you. Now, through ILLiad, we are able to offer you the option of electronic delivery of these articles in PDF format (Adobe's Portable Document Format).
Who do I contact if I have problems with or questions about Interlibrary Loan?
System Problems or Interlibrary Loan Questions:
SAIS Library Interlibrary Loan office at (202) 663-5908 or saisill@jhu.edu
SAIS Library Reference Desk at (202) 663-5901 or lcarlson@jhu.edu
Technical Support Questions: E-mail to Sonny Singh at psingh5@jhu.edu