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Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

Use interlibrary loan to request books, journal articles, and other materials that we do not own. Law students, faculty, and staff may use ILL even if the material is not law-related.

Turnaround Time

Requests are processed within 1 business day of receiving them, except on weekends and holidays. Once processed, the library depends on the lending libraries to fill the requests and the US Post Office to deliver the material.

Articles and other copies:

  • typically arrive in 1 week or less
  • do not have to be returned
  • will be sent to your Campbell email address as a PDF attachment

Books:

  • can take 2 or more weeks to arrive
  • must be returned to the law library by the due date specified by the lending library (this will be noted on a cover strip attached to the book)
  • may be renewed at the discretion of the lending library (please request renewals at least 4 days before the due date)
  • may be picked up outside Kim Hocking's office, 203E.

Cost

The library can usually obtain materials at no charge. If a lending library charges for interlibrary loan, the library will absorb the cost up to $20.

Copyright

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) 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 specific 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 a copy request if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the request would violate copyright law.

Returns and Renewals

Due dates on interlibrary loan books are set by the lending libraries, and loan periods may be shorter than our library loans. We must return materials on time and in good condition to ensure continued borrowing privileges. Use ILL books immediately upon receipt, copy what you need, and return them. They should not become overdue.

If you need to keep a book beyond its due date, request a renewal at least 4 days prior.

Return ILL materials to Kim Hocking or the cart outside her office.

Items That Are Difficult to Borrow

Most libraries do not loan the following types of material:

  • Very recent or very old books
  • Multi-volume sets and loose-leaf publications
  • Reference and reserve materials
  • Rare books and unpublished manuscripts
  • Newsletters and pamphlets
  • Entire issues or volumes of law reviews and other periodicals
  • Audiovisual materials and computer software
  • Some doctoral dissertations and master’s theses

It is difficult, if not impossible, for the library to obtain the following through interlibrary loan:

  • Print versions of official codes - many libraries have canceled print, so you have to use the online version
  • Foreign laws in English
  • Paper copies of materials that exist only online and digital materials accessible only from electronic proprietary subscriptions
  • Drafts or internal documents that the author obtained through professional contacts, e.g., internal government agency memos
  • Material described too vaguely to be identified