What is Interlibrary Loan?

Occasionally members of the Stephens College community need materials that are not available at Hugh Stephens Library. We can request materials, free of charge for the Stephens' community, from other libraries for your use.  To request a material, please fill out the appropriate form:

• Request a Book
  
• Request a Journal Article

Tips for Prompt ILL Service

Plan Ahead!
Obtaining materials through Interlibrary Loan does take time. 1-2 weeks is common.

Order the Right Thing. 
Some items can not be obtained via Interlibrary Loan.

Items likely to be filled:
Regularly circulating books
Journal articles with full citations (no more than 3 articles from the same journal)

Items likely NOT to be filled:

Interlibrary Loan Policy

Any member of the Stephens College community may place requests for library materials not available at Hugh Stephens Library. Patrons who may request materials include: undergraduate and graduate students; current and retired faculty, staff and administrators; and alumnae. Alumnae are not able to request materials through the Arthur or MOBIUS systems but are encouraged to use the library at Stephens to check out any books or visual materials that they would like to borrow.

Patrons should first check the Arthur and MOBIUS catalogs for the library books they seek. You will get the materials you need much more quickly if you submit your requests through those catalogs first. The turn around time for the Arthur and MOBIUS books is generally three business days. Thoroughly check all of the online databases on the Library's web page before submitting interlibrary loan requests for articles from journals. If you do not find the materials that you need in the Library's collection—either on the shelves, through the Arthur and MOBIUS catalogs, or as full-text articles through the online databases--then you may submit requests through standard Interlibrary Loan.

Requests for borrowing materials may be submitted to Interlibrary Loan by filling out interlibrary loan requests in paper form for book or periodical requests. This is most easily accomplished with the assistance of the Reference Librarian. Requests may also be submitted by filling out the forms on the Stephens Library's web page; by e-mailing the library; or via fax. The ILL request forms must be accurately and legibly completed and must provide as much citation information as possible. If you need assistance finding materials or filling out the forms please contact a Reference librarian at (573) 876-7181.

Library's Address:
Hugh Stephens Library, Interlibrary Loan Department
1200 E. Broadway, Box 2054
Stephens College
Columbia, MO 65215

Website: www.stephens.edu/library/
E-mail: [email protected]
Reference phone: (573) 876-7181
Circulation phone: (573) 876-7182
Fax: (573) 876-7264
Ariel: 204.185.33.124

Standard interlibrary loan may take some time. Books will generally take 1 to 2 weeks as they are shipped through the mail. Journal articles vary—they may arrive rapidly if they are not from an obscure journal and if the lending library has rapid document delivery service, or they may take 1 to 2 weeks if they arrive through postal mail. Allow at least one month for dissertations.

Some materials may not be available through interlibrary loan. It is the lending library's prerogative to refuse to fill a request. All due dates are set by the lending library. The ability for renewal of an item is also set by the lending library.

Stephens' students who want to borrow current textbooks for classes they are taking may request the books through the Arthur or MOBIUS catalogs.  However, if the textbook is not available through these catalogs, Stephens College Library has a policy not to obtain current textbook editions through standard Interlibrary Loan (OCLC).  Instead, please consult with a Reference Librarian about other options including getting an older edition through Arthur, MOBIUS, or OCLC, or perhaps finding the current edition elsewhere.

The cost involved in borrowing interlibrary loan materials is not passed on to our patrons. There is no charge for the loan of books or for copies of journal articles received through standard interlibrary loan. However, individuals are responsible for books or other materials borrowed through interlibrary loan and are expected to return their library materials in a timely manner. The loaning institution sets the replacement costs and any other processing fees for overdue or lost materials. These fees are non-negotiable.

Information for Institutional Borrowers
ILL requests may be submitted through OCLC, ALA forms, or via e-mail, fax, or Ariel. Non-circulating items include: reference or reserve materials, visual materials, audio materials, single issues of journals, bound journals, newspapers, microforms, curriculum kits, and senior or graduate theses. Requests for journal articles available only through our online databases will not be filled. Stephens College Library will loan to libraries in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The initial loan period is 37 days. Renewals are possible as long as no one else has placed a “hold” on the item. The first renewal period is 30 days. Additional renewals are at the discretion of the Librarian.

There is a $120.00 replacement cost per volume for Stephens College Library books lost through interlibrary loan borrowing.

The library is closed for the entire week between and including Christmas Eve and New Year's Day.

Hugh Stephens Library is an LVIS member.