Borrow and Request Materials

Do you need a book, music score, recording, or journal article that UNCSA does not own? You can request these items by using our Interlibrary Loan services!

Please note:

• There is a limit of 5 ILL item requests per person at a time.
• The due date for an item is set by the library that lends the item to us, so please be sure to return ILL items on time. Renewals can be requested (but not guaranteed), so if you need an item longer, contact us a minimum of 2 business days before the item's due date.  
• Any overdue, lost, or processing fees charged by the lending library for an item are your responsibility. If ILL items you have requested are repeatedly overdue or otherwise mishandled, your ILL privileges may be suspended.

Choose either of the options below to submit a request:

• Fill out the ILL request form directly based on item type.
• Check WorldCat for the item you need; in the item record, use the Request Item button to submit your ILL Request.

What types of materials are available to borrow through ILL?

Circulating books, music scores, and scans of journal and newspaper articles are the resources most commonly requested through ILL. Other types of materials, such as LP records, VHS tapes, bound journals, dissertations, archival materials, special collections, and reference books/scores, are generally not available for loan. We will make every effort to find the materials you need.

Who may use the Library’s ILL services?

ILL services are available only to current UNCSA faculty, staff, and students. They are not available to registered public patrons.

How are ILL requests submitted?

Fill out an ILL request form to request an item that the UNCSA Library does not own. Please provide as much information as possible. If you are requesting more than one item, please fill out a separate request for each item. There is a limit of 5 ILL items per patron.

How long does ILL take?

Please allow at least five to ten business days for print materials to arrive. Article scans are usually fulfilled within a couple days and will arrive in your email inbox. 

Where will I pick up my ILL request?

General books are held at the 1st Floor Service Desk and music and media materials are held at the 4th Floor Service Desk. As soon as your requested item arrives, we will notify you by email. ILL items that are not picked up within two weeks of your being notified will be returned to the lending library.

When and where do I return ILL materials?

The due date for the item will be indicated by email and on the item. Loan periods vary among lending libraries and may be anywhere from one week to a month. Return your ILL item to the same service desk where you picked it up. If you need an ILL item for longer than the given due date, contact us to request a renewal. Please note that some libraries do not allow renewals.

The UNCSA Library lends our circulating music items to libraries throughout the country and around the world if we are able. We loan books, music books, music scores, and CDs. We may loan some LPs and music DVDs/videos on a case by case basis. Individuals not affiliated with a college or university library should make their requests through their local public library.

We do not charge for loans and rarely charge for copies unless it is for something in excess of 50 pages; then it is $.10 per page for the overage.

The loan period is five weeks. Renewals are allowed for most items for another five weeks. Some restrictions may apply for certain items, which will be specified upon lending.

Materials may be recalled at any time for use by our UNCSA patrons.

Interlibrary Loan requests may be made online through OCLC Resource Sharing (WS-ILL or ILLiad). Our OCLC library code is NZG.

We normally ship by UPS within a few days of receipt of the request. We can also send some items via fax or email.

Contact us if you have questions.