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Interlibrary Loan

What is Interlibrary Loan?

Interlibrary Loan is a free service provided to North Central College students, faculty, and staff that allows you to borrow articles, books, and other resources not available at Oestlere Library or in other I-Share Libraries. Interlibrary Loan is a cooperative effort among libraries across North America, helping to broaden the pool of resources available to our community.

Learn more in this short video:

When to Use Interlibrary Loan

When to use Interlibrary Loan

Depending on the type of material you are requesting, follow these steps to determine whether to use Interlibrary Loan.

Interlibrary loan requests for books may be placed online via I-Share. Interlibrary loan requests for books not available in I-Share and for articles may be placed by filling out the appropriate online request forms. Incomplete or inaccurate information on forms delays the processing of requests. Library staff members are available to help patrons in placing requests. Interlibrary loan requests are not accepted over the telephone or by email.

For Articles

Yellow papers on a blue, circular background

  Articles

If Oesterle Library does not have access to the print or full-text electronic copy of the article you're looking for, we can still get a copy for you - free to you - from another library via interlibrary loan.

Copies of journal articles not in Oesterle Library's Periodicals Collection, including all print and online resources, may be requested by filling out the appropriate online request form.

Step One: Check CardinalSeach to make sure Oesterle Library does not have the article
Step Two: Click the link Interlibrary Loan Request link in the Cardinal Search record, or click the link below 
Step Three: Complete and sumbit the article request form

Copyright Disclaimer

Title 17, United States Code limits the annual number of copies or periodical articles that institutions may obtain. These limits apply to copies from recent issues (five years old or newer) of a periodical title which the borrowing library does not own. No more than five articles may be obtained from a single title, and no more than one article from a single issue. If a request puts the library over its legal limit for the title or issue from which material was requested, the Interlibrary Loan Assistant will attempt to obtain a copy of the article via other services which provide for copyright compliance. If staff are not able to obtain a copy that meets these requirements, the patron will be notified that the request cannot be filled.

For Books

If the book you're looking for isn't available at Oesterle Library or from any I-Share library, fill out the form in our interlibrary loan system, and we'll get the book from another library for you.

Books may be borrowed from libraries that are members of I-Share by placing a request online. Books can also be borrowed from non-I-Share libraries by filling out the appropriate online request form. For more information, contact a library staff member. While every attempt will be made to obtain materials, each library has the right to deny filling a request. For example, most libraries will not lend rare or valuable items, or materials in high demand at their institution. Other materials that cannot be loaned out would be ebooks in their entirety, since individual libraries license them for their user community only. We can try to borrow a print copy of the title if we don't already own it, if we cannot purchase it as an eBook.

Please reach out to the library for alternative recommendations. 

Once you have filled out the appropriate forms, you will receive an email informing you that we have received your request and will process it. Please allow up to two weeks for a request to be filled from outside of the I-Share system. When the book comes in, we'll send an email to your NCC email address to let you know.

Please follow the steps outlined below:

Step One: Doublecheck to make sure Oesterle Library and I-Share don't have the book

Step Two: Click the link below to be taken to Oesterle Library's Interlibrary Loan service

Step Three: Complete a New Request form for a Book

For Other Resources

If there is a resource - not a book or article - that Oesterle Library does not have, we can get a copy for you from another library.

Some examples of "Other Materials" include DVDs, VHS, Compact Discs, Government Documents, Musical Scores, and much more.

Please include as much information as possible about the item you are requesting. If more information is required to complete your request, you will be contacted by the Interlibrary Loan Assistant.

Please keep in mind that digital material, such as streaming or digital files such as visual and sound recordings, cannot be requested. Please reach out to the library for alternative recommendations or accommodations. 

Contact Us

If you have any questions about anything -- call, email, or chat with us!

Email: library@noctrl.edu

Information Desk: (630) 637-5700

Circulation Desk: (630) 637-5704



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