Interlibrary Loan Borrowing

Hi there, Pirates! Do you need something that the ECU Libraries don’t have? That’s where the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service can help! ECU students, faculty, and staff can ask for whatever you want, and we’ll try to get it from other libraries for you. Here’s how to make the most of this free service!

Make an Interlibrary Loan Request / ILLiad Logon

What Can You Request?

You can ask for anything, including a bunch of different materials.

  • Books: Need a scholarly book or a novel? Just request it!
  • Articles: Whether it’s from a journal, newspaper, or magazine, we’ve got you covered.
  • Book Chapters: Only need a part of a book? Just request that.
  • Dissertations and Theses: Perfect for those in-depth research projects.
  • Music Scores: Need to compare arrangements or have it to perform? Ask for it.
  • Media: Not everything is streaming. CDs, DVDs, and other formats can be requested. The ECU Libraries even has the playback equipment to borrow.
  • Government Documents: If you need something official, we can help with that, too!

How to Make a Request

  1. Log in to ILLiad: This is the system you’ll use to make and track your requests. If you don’t have an account yet, it’s super easy to set one up on the spot.
  2. Fill Out a Request Form: Provide as much info as you can about the item you need. The more details, the better! But don’t worry if you don’t have a full citation.
  3. Submit Your Request: Once you’ve filled everything out, hit that Submit button! We’ll do the rest.

How it Works & Speed

We scour thousands of libraries around the world and many other sources to find what you want.

Some requests can be filled quickly, and others take longer to fill.

  • Many articles arrive within a day or two.
  • Many books and media arrive within a week.

If you are in a rush or it has been a while, let us know. We’ll check and do what we can.

Delivery Options

Once we get what you requested, we’ll deliver it to you in one of three ways:

  • Email: Articles, chapters, etc. will most often be sent straight to your inbox as a clickable link to a PDF.
  • Pick Up: Books, etc. can be grabbed at the Circulation Desk in Joyner Library or at the Music Library.
  • Office Delivery: If you’re a faculty or staff and have an office on the ECU Main Campus, we can often bring the item to you. Ask to be signed up for this option.

Due Dates and Late Returns

Due dates can vary — they are set by the other lending libraries, not ECU.

ECU won’t charge any overdue fines for interlibrary loan items, but returning items late can lead to some consequences:

  • Your Interlibrary Loan privileges might be suspended.
  • You could also lose your ability to borrow other materials from the ECU Libraries.
  • You might be billed by the other libraries to replace items that are very late.

So, make sure to return your items on time!

Borrowing Directly from Other Libraries

As an ECU student or employee, you can also borrow materials from other libraries in the UNC system or select other college and university libraries throughout North Carolina. Just check with them for their specific borrowing policies.

Special Note for Health Sciences Students

If you’re part of ECU’s Health Sciences Division, you’ll want to use Laupus Health Sciences Library for your Interlibrary Loan requests. They’ve got you covered!

Have Questions?

Please ask us at jis@ecu.edu or 252-328-6068. We’re here to help you navigate the Interlibrary Loan process and make your research a breeze!

Happy borrowing, and good luck with your studies! Go Pirates!