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Home / Services / Interlibrary Loan / ILL FAQs

ILL FAQs

1. What are the differences between ConnectNY and ILLiad?

ConnectNY is a combined online catalog of selected New York academic libraries, the purpose of which is to expedite book borrowing between campuses. To use ConnectNY, you need the barcode on the back of your Vassar ID.

ILLiad is an abbreviation for Interlibrary Loan internet accessible database, and can be used to borrow books not available in ConnectNY as well as other types of materials. To use ILLiad, you must set up an account.

To determine the most appropriate service for your needs, see the ILL Guidelines.

2. What is Nexpress?

Nexpress is an article requesting service. Requests are initiated through the Search for Fulltext link available in most of our databases.  You will see this link only after you do a search in the databases.  If Vassar has the article, the Search for Fulltext link will give you information on how to find it.  If Vassar doesn't have the article, click on the Order on Interlibrary Loan option, then log into your circulation record  using your username and barcode.  That's all you need to do to make the request.

If Nexpress can’t supply the article, your request will transfer to your ILLiad  account.  If you have not set up an ILLiad account, ILL staff will set one up for you.  All Nexpress (and most ILLiad) article requests will be filled with a pdf of the article.  When the request has been filled, you'll receive an email telling you how to access the pdf.  Nexpress pdfs are sent to your Circulation Record, ILLiad pdfs are sent to your ILLiad account, and print articles are sent to your campus mailbox.
 

3. Who may use ILL?

Vassar students, Vassar faculty and their spouses/domestic partners, Vassar administration and staff may use this service.

4. Is there a charge for this service?

Generally, there is no charge to borrow. However, some libraries do charge for lending. Please indicate on the request form the highest fee you are willing to pay. Every effort is made to obtain materials free of charge or at the lowest fee possible.

5. What types of materials can be borrowed?

ConnectNY:   Books that are not in our collection or are in our collection but checked out or missing.

ILLiad:   Books that are not in our collection OR in ConnectNY, periodical articles, dissertations, and materials available via the Center for Research Libraries.

Nexpress:  Articles 

6. What types of materials cannot be borrowed?

Whole issues or volumes of periodicals, recent or un-microfilmed newspapers, reference or rare books, maps, videos, sound recordings, films and electronic media cannot be borrowed. Exception: all materials available from the Center for Research Libraries, irrespective of document type, can be requested.

7. Can I borrow books that are owned by Vassar but that are checked out or not on the shelf?

ConnectNY:  Yes, if the book is checked out or is "Missing."   No, if the book is listed as "available" in the online catalog but is not on the shelf. In this case, submit a Search Request.  If the book is not found, it will be declared missing and then you can request it.

ILLiad:  Same as above, except if the book is available via CNY, use that instead of ILLiad.

8. Is there a limit to the number of items I can request at once?

ConnectNY: you can have 50 books on loan at one particular time.

ILLiad: There are no limits but if you are submitting a large number of requests, the Interlibrary Loan Department asks that you prioritize them so that the most important items are requested first.

9. How long does it take to get materials?

Articles filled via Nexpress should be available within 24 hours weekdays.  For CNY and ILLiad,  see the ILL page for general guidelines.  Depending on the time of year, volume of requests, and many other factors, a request could take considerably longer. Start your research early, fill out forms completely, and submit requests well in advance of deadlines. Consult a reference librarian if you have questions about how to fill out forms.

10. How do I check the status of a request?

ConnectNY:   Monitor the status of requests in the View Your Circulation Record option of the online catalog. Items whose status appears as 'RECV'D' are ready for pickup at the circulation desk.

ILLiad: Log into your ILLiad account and use "View/Modify Outstanding Requests".

Nexpress:  Monitor the status of requests in the View Your Circulation Record option of the online catalog. 

11. Where do I check materials out?

ConnectNY: You will receive an email notification of the arrival of your loan(s), which will be held at the Main circulation desk for check-out. Materials will be held for 7 days. Only 1 notice will be sent.

ILLiad: You will receive an email notification of the arrival of your loan(s), which will be held at the Main circulation desk for check-out. You will receive a reminder email notification within a week of the due date of your loan(s). 

12. Where do I return materials I've borrowed?

Materials with due dates should be returned to the Main circulation desk.

13. How long can I keep an Interlibrary Loan item?

ConnectNY: the loan period is 21 days from the day you check out the book.

ILLiad: the loan period for books is set by the lending library but is usually 4 weeks. CRL materials may be kept for 3 months with unlimited renewals. However, materials recalled by CRL must be returned promptly.

All photocopies and/or PDFs of articles are yours to keep.

14. How do I keep track of materials I've checked out?

ConnectNY: View Your Circulation Record within the library online catalog.

ILLiad: Log into your ILLiad account and use "View/Renew Checked-out Items".

15. Can I renew materials?

ConnectNY: books can be renewed once BEFORE it is due.

ILLiad: renewals are at the discretion of the lending library. Most libraries allow no more than one renewal. Make renewal requests at least three days BEFORE the book is due.

16. How do I renew?

ConnectNY: Renew requests are made in the View Your Circulation Record option of the Vassar online catalog.

ILLiad: Log into your ILLiad account and use "View/Renew Checked-out Items".

17. What if I wait until after the due date to try to renew, and am blocked from renewing?

ConnectNY: Contact a staff member at the main circulation desk. You can only request ONE renewal for a loan through ConnectNY.

Illiad: Email your renewal request to ill@vassar.edu or call the Interlibrary Loan Office at 437-5765. If the item can't be renewed, you'll be sent a recall notice via email. Otherwise, after a day or two, check your ILLiad account for the new renewal date issued from the lending library.

18. What happens if I have an overdue book?

ConnectNY: If an item is not returned within 30 days of the due date a $100 fine ($75 replacement cost plus $25 processing fee) is automatically issued. At this point, your borrowing privileges will be suspended. If the item is returned promptly, the fine is reduced to $10.00, and your borrowing privileges will be reinstated.

ILLiad: You will receive an email overdue notice the first week it is due. After another week you will be sent a second overdue notice. A final overdue notice will be sent on the third week and your ILLiad account will be BLOCKED until the book has been returned. Overdue fines from the lending library and/or replacement costs will be charged to your college account.

19. What happens if I damage or lose a book?

ConnectNY: users will be charged $100 for lost books ($75 replacement cost plus $25 processing fee).

ILLiad: users are responsible for all ILL materials in their possession, and for replacement costs for materials damaged or lost while in their possession. Replacement costs are determined by the lending library, and often include a processing fee.

20. How can my student research assistant place ILL requests for me?

ConnectNY:  Have your student order and charge out books on your faculty research assistant card.

ILLiad: The faculty member can create a joint account as follows:

Enter "faculty assistant" in the First Name box. In the Last Name box enter your last name/the student assistant's last name, ie: Fergusson/Johnson. You MUST use your faculty 999 number as the Vassar  ID number (but this number will not become available to the research assistant). Decide whether you or student will be the email contact, and fill in the rest of the form appropriately. Share the username and password with your student.

Please validate your faculty research assistant card at the Circulation Desk prior to making requests through ConnectNY or ILLiad. Orders cannot be processed until the card has been validated.

Nexpress:  Have your student order articles on your faculty research card. 

21.  Are there any other restrictions? 

Books borrowed through Interlibrary Loan may not be put on Reserve or borrowed for group use. Since Interlibrary Loan is a courtesy, the requester must take full responsibility for the item borrowed and must observe restrictions such as "Library Use Only" which the lending library may impose. Vassar College adheres to the regulations of the New York State Interlibrary Loan Policy, the ALA Interlibrary Loan Code, the International Interlibrary Loan Code and the Copyright Act to comply with the law and to maintain good will with other libraries.

22. How do I contact the ILL department?

The department is located in the staff corridor of the library, last door on the left (Room 146) and is staffed weekdays 8:30-5:00. The phone number is 845-437-5765, and the email address is: ill@vassar.edu.

23. Federal Copyright Notice

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials.

Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research". If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use", that user may be liable for copyright infringement.

This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.