Distance users can have physical items shipped to their home address. They can also receive electronic copies of chapters and articles to their CSS email. When submitting an interlibrary loan request, select Home Address under Preferred Local Pickup Location. You can also respond to the arrival notice with your shipping address and ask for items to be shipped. Physical item requests are shipped by USPS. Items are shipped free of charge, but distance users are responsible for return shipping. Please allow time for processing and shipping.
If you experience any difficulties or have questions, please email library@css.edu.
Use the following form to request books, journal articles, or other items through Interlibrary Loan.
Q. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?
Delivery speeds are dependent on staffing at the CSS library, staffing at the lending library, the availability of the requested material, and shipping speed. Most articles are filled within 24 - 72 hours on business days. Books typically arrive within 7 business days.
Q. HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN MY ILL REQUEST ARRIVES?
Articles - You will receive an email with the subject "The article you requested" or "Delivery of Minitex Referral Articles" with instructions to access your article. You have a limited number of logins and days to access the article. It is best to download and save the article immediately.
*NOTE: Articles are scanned as PDFs. You will need to have Adobe Reader on your device.
Books, DVDs, CDs, etc. - You will receive an arrival notice in your CSS email when your item has arrived. Once you receive this, you may pick it up at the Library's Circulation Desk. If you are a distance student and need the item shipped to your home address please reply to the email with your shipping address.
Q. CAN THE ARTICLE BE DELIVERED TO ME BY EMAIL?
Yes, articles and book chapter requests are sent to your CSS email. You will receive an email with a link, password, and instructions for downloading the document. Most articles will remain on the server for 5 viewings or 30 days after the notification is sent.
Q. AM I ALLOWED TO PRINT AND SAVE ARTICLES THAT ARE DELIVERED TO MY EMAIL?
Yes. You may print and save the articles that you receive electronically. The copyright restrictions are listed so patrons are aware that they may not perform any action that would extend beyond "fair use" according to the copyright law of the United States.
Q. WOULD I EVER HAVE TO PAY A FEE?
ILL is paid for through the library budget and provided at no charge for CSS faculty, staff, and students.
Q. WHEN ARE ILL BOOKS DUE?
Due dates are set by the lending library. Generally, materials are loaned for 4 to 16 weeks. You will receive an email with the due date when you check out the material.
Q. HOW DO I REQUEST A RENEWAL?
Log into ScholastiCAT. You will see a list of items you have checked out. You can select items you'd like to renew. You will receive an email when the renewal has been approved. You may also reply to email notices to request a renewal.
Q. CAN A BORROW AN E-BOOK THROUGH INTERLIBRARY LOAN?
No, copyright law does not allow for the lending of eBooks between libraries. We can request and individual chapter of an eBook.
For questions about your ILL requests, please email library@css.edu, or call us at (218) 723-6140.
Tutorials for submitting an Interlibrary Loan Request.