Healthcare Informatics Library Research Module

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

In this short video you will learn how to request materials from other libraries through Interlibrary Loan, also known as ILL.

Although Sacred Heart University Library provides access to many print and electronic materials to the Sacred Heart community, you may come across a book or journal article that we do not have in our collection. Fortunately, the ILL system allows you to request materials from libraries around the world.

To start a request, click on the “Interlibrary Loan (ILL)” link in the “Research Support” dropdown menu on the homepage.

On the ILL page, click on the “ILL Account Login” link to access your ILL account.

Sign in using your SHU username and password.

Click on the “Create Request” button to submit an ILL request.

On the request form, you can request an Article, Book or Book Chapter. Fields marked with an asterisk are required.

Once you have filled out all the necessary fields in the form, click the “Submit Request” button at the bottom of the form.

Your request will then go to our ILL staff, who will attempt to locate a library that can provide you with an electronic or physical copy of the item you have requested.

If you are searching the library’s databases and the full-text article is not available, there will be a “Request this Item” link.

Once you click this link and log into your ILL account, the fields will automatically be filled in with the citation information of the article.

In order to stay informed about your ILL requests, check your communication preferences in your ILL account by clicking “View Profile”. Make sure your email address is correct and check the box to receive updates by email. Doublecheck your Junk Email Folder for email notifications from notices@e.worldcat.org.

Please note: if our library already has access to the material requested, the ILL request will be canceled, so be sure to check our resources first. Additionally, be advised that ILL requests can take from three business days to two weeks to be processed and filled, so plan your research accordingly.

For further assistance with ILL or with any other questions, feel free to contact us at the library!