Interlibrary Loan: FAQ

1. I graduated from Winthrop, but I no longer have access to my Interlibrary Loan account. Can I restore access to Interlibrary Loan?

Yes, but you will first need to Apply For User Access via the Winthrop Alumni Association. For more information about this process, please email alumni@winthrop.edu, or call the Alumni Association office at 803.323.2145. For more information about what library services are available to you, please see our Alumni & Retired Faculty page. 

2. I have not used Interlibrary Loan before. Do I need to do anything before I can login to the ILL Patron Access system?

As long as you have activated your Winthrop email account, you can use the ILL Patron Access system immediately. For those patrons who have trouble logging in, please call the ILL Department at 803-323-2304 or contact the IT Help Desk at x2400. Generally, problems logging in means that you will need to see the IT Department to activate your account. 

First-time users of the ILL Patron Access system will be automatically directed to a page where they will be asked to enter their contact information, status, and department/major. This is a one-time entry; once established, the system will auto-fill your information on all new requests.

If at a later date you need to change your personal information, simply click the "Preferences page" link found on either the Book or Article Request forms. Updates are real-time.

3. How do I submit ILL requests?

To submit new ILL book or article requests, you must login to your ILL Patron Access account, select Loan or Copy request from the menu and input the bibliographic citation information for the item(s) you need. Please provide as much information as possible. All requests that are for returnable materials (cds, dvds, music scores, theses, etc.) should be placed as Loan requests. If you need a book chapter or an article from a journal, please use the Copy request form.

Once you submit requests, they are generally processed within 24 hours. It may take up to 2 days before a request appears in your list of current ILL items in the ILL Patron Access system.

4. I submitted more requests than I see in my account. Where are the other requests?

Some of your requests may not be processed yet, or a lender has not yet accepted the item for lending consideration. If any item you order does not appear on your current list of ILL items within 5 days, please email the ILL office via your ILL account.

5. How do I know when my ILL items are available?

Patrons will receive a notification via their Winthrop email address when requested materials are processed and available for pick-up. Checking your email account is the quickest way to find out.

You may also login to your ILL Patron Access account and check the status of your requested items.

6. Where and when do I pick up ILL materials?

• Books: Loaned materials are placed on the Hold Shelf in the Circulation Office. Please pick up your items in the Circulation Office during regular library hours. Books must be signed for to acknowledge receipt.
• Articles: Articles are retrieved by patrons via their ILL Patron Access account. The articles are in PDF format and will be available to patrons for 14 days from receipt. The ONLY time a patron will have to pick up a hard copy of an article is if the quality of the copy we receive is too poor for online viewing. If this is the case, patrons will receive a different notice asking them to pick up their article(s) at the Circulation Office.
  • Returning ILL Items: All loaned materials should be returned to the Circulation Office. If the library is closed, please use the book drop to return your items.

7. My article disappeared from my list of available articles. What happened?

Due to copyright restrictions and server space, articles are only available to patrons for 14 days. After that time, articles are automatically deleted from the server. It is always best to access your article as soon as you receive a notification and either save the file to your personal device or print it.

8. How do I request a renewal?

Please email the Interlibrary Loan Department to request a renewal. Please make sure to check the due date of your items and request renewals at least 2 days prior to the due date. Overdue items must be returned as soon as possible.

9. I see logout links on all pages. Is this important?

Yes! Logging out of your ILL Patron Access account insures that someone else cannot access your account later. This is especially important if you are using a public terminal. While your session will timeout on its own, logging out is the safest way to ensure the privacy of your information.