What is ILLiad?

ILLiad is the electronic system you use to request an item through Interlibrary Loan. The name ILLiad can be thought of as an acronym for InterLibrary Loan Internet Accessible Database.

Why register for ILLiad?

ILLiad offers many advantages over traditional ILL systems:

You will find it easier to submit your interlibrary loan requests. With ILLiad, you enter your name, address, and other personal information into the system only once, at the time of your first request.

Your request will be handled more rapidly and accurately as problems relating to misinterpretation of hand-written requests are eliminated.

You can get many of your photocopies more quickly through Electronic Delivery (PDF format).

You can get information about the status of your request through the Web at any time from any location without having to call the ILL Department.

Library personnel are able to serve you better because all data about your request and its handling is stored in a searchable database. We are able to respond quickly to your inquiries about your request. We are also able to gather statistical information about the performance of the libraries that lend to us, enabling us to make better decisions when choosing a lender to supply an item.

Why do I need a username and password to use ILLiad?

Your username and password ensure that access to information about your interlibrary loan requests is secure. You can also edit your personal information as needed.

Your username and password can be anything you like. We recommend that you follow good security practice and choose a password that is different from those you use to access other systems. However, no one but you will know your password, not even the library staff. The password you set is stored in an encrypted file.

What if I forget my password?

If you forget your password, click the Forgot Password? link on the ILLiad logon page or call the Reference Desk at (713) 646-1712. An email with instructions for resetting your password will be sent to the address on file. Please change your password once you logon to ILLiad.

Who can use ILLiad to request books and photopies?

Interlibrary loan services are provided for current South Texas College of Law Houston faculty, staff, and students only.

What can be requested through interlibrary loan?

Books not owned by The Fred Parks Law Library may be requested for loan. Photocopies of chapters or articles from publications not owned by the Library can also be requested.

What cannot be obtained through interlibrary loan?

Except for textbooks, which cannot be requested, we will make every attempt to supply the materials you need, but most libraries typically do not lend the following: audio/visual materials; fragile, rare or archival materials; dissertations and theses; entire journal issues.

What are the charges for obtaining book and photocopies?

The Fred Parks Law Library makes every effort to obtain materials free of charge by requesting them from our resource sharing partners in Texas and the surrounding region. However, libraries outside of our region, who are sometimes the only available suppliers for a requested item, may charge a lending or document delivery fee. Prior to obtaining any materials that require a fee, we will contact you to approve or deny the charges.

How can I use OCLC FirstSearch (WorldCat, ArticleFirst) to submit a request?

Conduct a search in WorldCat or ArticleFirst to locate the item you need. Click on the title of the item. Under the section labeled "Get This Item," you will see a link that says "Send Request to ILLiad." When you click on this link, the ILLiad Logon page will open in a new window. Logon as you normally would, and the form (for Book or Photocopy, depending on your request type) should open with all of the fields populated with the bibliographic information from OCLC. Click the submit button.

How long does it take to get a book or photocopied document?

Please allow a minimum of one week to receive requested materials. Some hard-to-find items may take as long as one month to arrive, but this is not typical.

Is there a limit on the number of items I may request?

No, you may request as many items as you need.

What Web browser should I use?

You need a Web browser that can handle forms, tables, and preferrably Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). We recommend the current versions of either Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.

Why does my browser say that you're sending a cookie? What's in it?

The technology that we use sends a Session ID to be stored on your machine. You can refuse this cookie and still be able to use ILLiad without any problems.

Is security a problem if I use a public workstation?

Yes. Web browsers cache information and create a history file on the local workstation. To ensure that subsequent users cannot access the pages you viewed, we suggest that you access ILLiad on your personal computer or an otherwise secure workstation. When using a public access workstation, delete those pages from the history file that contain your personal information and exit from the web browser before you leave the workstation.

Why don't I see all my older requests when I look at my request history?

From time to time we purge older records from ILLiad. Our policy is to keep requests online for several years in order to comply with record keeping requirements of the copyright law.

What is electronic delivery?

All requested documents will be stored in PDF format on our ILLiad server. You will be contacted by email to notify you of your document's availability, and a direct link to your document will be provided. We will keep these documents on our server for 120 days in case of the need for future accessibility.

Who do I contact if I have problems with or questions about ILLiad?

System Problems or InterLibrary Loan Questions:
Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:00 pm send an e-mail to ill@stcl.edu