Those eligible for interlibrary loan at UWM are:
- UWM faculty and emeritus faculty
- UWM staff members
- UWM graduate students currently enrolled, employed at UWM, or working as researchers for UWM
- faculty members
- UWM undergraduate students, currently enrolled
- Members of the UWM Alumni Association
- Friends of the Library (Sponsor level members and above)
Current members of the Alumni Association who have a library special permit are eligible to use ILL.
Materials requested must be needed for research related to the patron's area of study. The Interlibrary Loan Office obtains books, dissertations, theses, government documents, and other materials in paper copy or microformat. Most newspapers are received on microfilm. Photocopies of requested periodical articles are generally obtained since journals are non-circulating items in most libraries.
The ILL Office will not request materials that the library owns, including materials in microformat or on Reserve. If a book is owned by UWM but currently checked out, you may place a recall on the book through the online catalog. If the book is not returned within a week after being recalled, then place a request with the ILL Office. Rare materials and reference items are usually not available through interlibrary lending operations.
The ILL Office will not request textbooks that are required for your class.
Faculty members cannot place material borrowed through the Interlibrary Loan Office on Reserve.
Inquire at the ILL Office for any other pertinent information or restrictions.
Planning ahead is the way to ensure that your material will arrive on time. Usually, ten to fourteen business days must be allowed for receiving material requested. The Office will obtain the requested material as rapidly as possible, but cannot guarantee any specific time frame.
Material requested from in-state libraries generally arrives within ten days. Requests that must be sent to out-of-state libraries may take three or more weeks to fill.
Patrons who have a closer deadline or a very large number of requests are encouraged to check the holdings of local libraries.
Information and listings of materials of Milwaukee area libraries are available in the Interlibrary Loan Office and at the Research and Instructional Support Information Desk. You may also ask a librarian about an InfoPass, by which a member of the UWM community can borrow materials in person from over 100 local libraries.
The RUSH ILL service can often obtain copies of articles within 24-48 hours, for a nominal fee.
Each library that lends material to UWM users determines the due date. Generally, most libraries allow 2-3 weeks for use of their materials. The due date for each item is noted on the band attached to the cover of the item. Any fines or damaged/lost book charges are at the discretion of the lending library; payment is the responsibility of the patron.
Most items may be renewed by accessing your ILLiad account. Under the VIEW category in the menu, select the link for "Checked out Items." Then click on the transaction number associated with the book you are trying to renew. The individual book request will appear in a new table. Click on the link "Renew Request" located above the table. The new due date will appear under the UWM Illiad image.
Please note that overdue books can not be renewed in this manner. Please contact the ILL office to renew overdue books. Any fines or damaged/lost book charges are made at the discretion of the lending library; payment is the responsibility of the patron.
Books and Microfilm: These items will be available at the Main Circulation Desk for you to pick up. You will receive an e-mail message when the material has arrived. Material will be ready approximately one hour after the message is sent.
Articles: Most articles are received electronically (see "How does the Interlibrary Loan Office deliver the materials I requested" for more information). Some articles are received via mail or fax. Those articles will be held at the Main Circulation Desk for pick up. You will receive an e-mail message when they have arrived.
The ILL Office receives most articles electronically. They are then posted to the web for you to retrieve. You will receive an e-mail message with a link to the ILLiad logon web page. After logging in, select the "Electronically Received Articles" link to access available articles. Locate the transaction number and click on the icon under the VIEW column to view the article as a PDF.
The Interlibrary Loan Office does not obtain textbooks that are required for class. Please talk to your instructor about your options.