Summary
The purpose of InterLibrary Services is to make available to MSU faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students research materials not available at the MSU Libraries. All transactions are between libraries, not individuals. The MSU Libraries must abide by the policies of other libraries in order to ensure the continued availability of research materials.
InterLibrary Services are available for:- Faculty and staff
- Adjunct and affiliated faculty and staff
- Retired faculty and staff
- Currently enrolled graduate and undergraduate students
Requests are processed on a daily basis. Rush service is provided for medical emergencies, grant application deadlines,or other special conditions. An MSU faculty member may request that a research assistant be authorized to check out material in his/her name by completing a "Faculty Authorization Request" at the Main Library Circulation Desk. To request an application,call 517-355-2333 or e-mail: CircAdm@mail.lib.msu.edu.
Request forms are available electronically via the ILLiad. Complete one ILL request form for each item needed. Please do not abbreviate titles of books, journals, or words in an article title. Complete, unabbreviated and accurate citations are especially important with foreign language materials. Also, be sure to include the source of the reference (where the item was mentioned or cited) on all requests submitted. It is important to fill in all of the information requested on the form. If you need assistance, please ask for help at a reference desk or branch library.
Also, check the holdings on MAGIC before submitting a request, the item requested may be owned by the MSU Libraries. You should also check MeLCat or Electronic Resources for available material. If you are unable to locate MSU's copy, please indicate this information in the "Other Information" field of the request form.
Books, dissertations, microforms, and older volumes of periodicals can usually be borrowed. Please be aware that it is not the intent of InterLibrary Services to borrow textbooks in lieu of purchase. Photocopies of periodical articles or short chapters of books can generally be obtained as well, as long as such requests are in accordance with U.S. copyright laws. Items missing or withdrawn from the MSU Libraries collections can be requested. Copies of missing pages may also be requested. Users who require extensive use of materials from other institutions will be encouraged to work with a subject specialist for assistance in arranging access to needed materials. The library reserves the right to limit the number of requests processed to 10 per week to insure that requests from other users can be processed in a timely manner.
Books that are owned by the MSU Libraries but are currently on reserve or located in a special collection cannot be obtained. Contact the Circulation/Information Desk in the Main Library, or a branch library staff member to place a hold or recall MSU owned materials.
Please plan ahead when requesting materials. The average time required to obtain material is ten days to two weeks. When several libraries must be contacted before an available copy is located, the process may take longer. Requests that must be sent internationally may take considerably longer than average.
Photocopies of articles will be sent to the requester via electronic delivery and a notice will be sent through e-mail. The article will be available for 24 days unless the user removes it. If prior to this time, the user no longer requests the use of an article, it may be deleted using the "Delete" button to the right of the article information. In the event that you accidently delete an article form the web page, email us at ill@mail.lib.msu.edu to see if we can reset it.
A notice indicating that a loan has arrived will be sent via e-mail. For ILLiad users who have asked for a branch pick-up location, the item will be sent by next courier to the branch. Please give enough time for tranportation of the item. With MeLCat requests, upon receipt of the notice, the user may request delivery of materials to a branch location by calling InterLibrary Services at 517-432-6123, ext.303 or through e-mail at ill@mail.lib.msu.edu. Otherwise, the loan material will be available at the Main Library Circulation Desk.
The initial use period for ILL loans is 28 days.
Due dates should be honored and borrowed material must be returned in the same condition as it was received from the lending library. All loans obtained through InterLibrary Services should be returned directly to the Main Library Circulation Desk or at any branch library. To ensure that any material returned to a branch library does not go astray, please be sure to return the material to a library staff member in person and do not use a book drop. Failure to return borrowed materials will result overdue fines,a replacement charge of not less than $100 and may result in the loss of library privileges.
Please note: It is not the intent of InterLibrary Services to borrow texbooks in lieu of purchase.