Document Delivery FAQ

What are Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery, and ILLiad?

Interlibrary Loan is a service of the library for law faculty, staff, students and attorneys only that can be used when you need a copy of a journal article, newspaper article, conference proceedings, or when you want to borrow a book, microform, or video that is not available from one of the University of Utah libraries (check the library catalog first). The Interlibrary Loan staff will do its best to get a copy or borrow an item for you from another library outside the campus. Public patrons should contact their local public library and non-law students and staff should contact the Marriott library to make interlibrary loan requests.

Document Delivery is a fee-based service for the public.  (Law faculty should request materials via their designated library liaison.) Document Delivery refers to materials that are available at the University of Utah law library which the Document Delivery staff will retrieve and email to the public.  Please see the Document Delivery Request Form for more information and fee schedule, then email it to docdelivery@law.utah.edu to place your request.

ILLiad is the name of the program used to manage all interlibrary loan and document delivery requests.

What is FirstSearch?

If you are searching for books and articles for your copywork, or research project, FirstSearch is a catalog that allows you to see if there are any holdings for your items at the University of Utah Libraries. If your item can’t be found at the University of Utah, you can initiate an Interlibrary Loan request directly through FirsSearch to the law library’s ILLiad system.

Who may request Interlibrary Loan materials?

The Interlibrary Loan service is only available to law faculty, law students, law staff, Utah Bar members and visiting scholars who have an active circulation account with the James E. Faust Law Library. Main Campus and School of Health Sciences patrons are referred to the Marriott and Eccles Health Libraries respectively. Members of the Utah Bar using this service are responsible for any borrowing fees imposed by lending libraries.

The ILL service is not available to public individuals. We will honor the requests for loans from other libraries. Public patrons must obtain ILL service through the library with whom they are affiliated.

What materials may be requested through Interlibrary Loan?

Interlibrary Loan provides access to most books or microforms, photocopies of journal articles or newspaper articles, and other research materials not owned by the James E. Faust Law Library, Marriott Library or Eccles Health Sciences library unless they are checked out, at the bindery, or declared as lost or missing from one of these University libraries.

Materials that usually cannot be obtained include:

  • Entire issues or volumes of journals
  • Reference or reserve books
  • Rare books or valuable material such as manuscripts

If the materials you need are checked out to another patron, you have the following options:

  • Contact the Information Desk and request a hold or recall to be placed on the item that you need. You will be notified within 10 days depending on how soon the item is returned.
  • Consult with the Reference Desk for alternative sources (E-journal).
  • Submit an ILL request.

How do I submit an Interlibrary Loan request?

Faculty may send their document delivery requests to docdelivery@law.utah.edu directly (please note that you need to use the full address) or can enter their requests via ILLiad.

What if I am a staff member on ULR?

Copyworkers must create their own ILLiad accounts. Individuals are responsible for their own interlibrary loan transactions and materials.

How long does it take to get Interlibrary Loan materials?

On average, it takes approximately two weeks for the lending library to fill an ILL request depending on the location of the library and the availability of the item at the other libraries. If the library is close or if their staff is very efficient, you may get it in as little as three days. If not, it may take longer.

You are strongly encouraged to submit requests well in advance of the project deadlines since some items are difficult or impossible to obtain through Interlibrary Loan. Go to the “View/Modify Outstanding Requests” page when you log into ILLiad to find out the status of your requests.

How will I know when the Interlibrary Loan item has arrived?

You will receive an Illiad email message notifying you of each item received and information about the delivery method.

Where do I pick up my Interlibrary Loan materials?

Students and Staff: Books can be picked up at the information desk on level one.  Photocopies will be delivered electronically through ILLiad for you to retrieve.
Faculty: Books will be delivered to your mailboxes and photocopies will be delivered electronically through ILLiad for you to retrieve.

What is desktop Electronic Delivery?

Instead of receiving a paper copy of an article you request, you will receive access to an electronic version of the article online and you will not need to come to the library to retrieve it if you have access to a computer and the internet.

How do I know what the due date for an item is?

The loan period for item(s) borrowed through Interlibrary Loan is determined by the lending library and is usually 2-4 weeks. The item due date will be listed on the book band or book label when you receive your requested item. You can also find the due date on your “View/Renew Checked Out Items” page when you log into Illiad.

How should I return Interlibrary Loan materials?

All materials borrowed through the James E. Faust Law Library’s Interlibrary Loan service must be returned directly to the James E. Faust Law Library ILL staff or Library information desk. They should not be returned through campus mail, other libraries, or to the library drop box. If the materials are not returned properly, you will be held responsible for any overdue fees or lost book fees.

Who should I contact if I have any questions, problems, or requests?

Contact Laura Robinson (801-585-3014) laura.robinson@law.utah.edu, for Interlibrary Loan questions,
Beth Jennings (801-213-6997) Beth jennings@law.utah.edu, for Document Delivery questions.