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About InterLibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan, or ILL, is a means for current students, faculty, and staff to get access to library materials! We get items from libraries around the world that can't be found at the Cal Poly Humboldt Library or are currently not available at the Library. Place a request and we will acquire the materials from any library that is able to lend it. You'll be notified via email when the item is available for use. Returning materials on time and in good condition ensures that the library will share materials with us again in the future.

The first time you use interlibrary loan to acquire something not held by another CSU Library or if you are looking for something in an electronic format, you may be required to register in our system that supports this type of borrowing. Go to the Resource Sharing Request form to get started!.

Please contact us if you have any questions at resourcesharing@humboldt.edu.

Expand Your Search

If you're not finding enough resources for your search, you have the option to expand your results to see what's available from other libraries. Current students, faculty, and staff have the option to log in and place a request for those items, both in physical and digital formats. If you're located more than 50 miles away from the library, you can request items be sent to your preferred address, however we request that all others pick up materials at the library circulation desk.

To search other libraries, find the link that says "Didn't find what you were looking for? Click here to expand your search>". It is located beneath the search and sign in bars, above the search results.

Sign in with your Humboldt credentials to be able to place your request. You can do this on the search screen, or within the record you want to request.

Sign in link located beneath the search bar:

If you see a record in your search results that says "Get it for me from other libraries", clicking on the title will bring up more information about that title.You can also sign in when you open that record, as seen below:

Once signed in, you will see the request options for that title. Each record will have the material type you  can request, estimated delivery time, and length of time available for use, if the library you're requesting it from has provided that information. In the following example, you are able to request a physical copy or a digitized chapter from the physical copy.

Note: We no longer offer delivery to home options. The default is to pick up in the library. You will receive an email when your item is ready for pick up in the library.

Once your request is sent, you can check the status of your request in your account.

Interlibrary Loan FAQ

How long does it take to get my requested items?

• Articles / book chapter / scanned materials: within 1-3 days, unless it is a not easily available
• Loans via the catalog: within a week
• Loans via the form: a week or more

What can I get through ILL?

• Articles, book chapters, theses, books, movies, dvds/blue ray, cds, maps

How do I check the status of my request?

• If requested via Resource Sharing Request in a catalog search, your request will be listed under the request tab in your library account until it is checked out to you. There aren’t any status updates until you are notified that it has arrived at Cal Poly Humboldt.
• If requested via the form submission under Illiad, the request updates can be viewed in your interlibrary loan account.

Who can use InterLibrary Loan at Cal Poly Humboldt?

• Cal Poly Humboldt students, staff, faculty, and emeritus faculty and staff

Does ILL work for textbooks?

• You can submit ILL requests for textbooks, although the items are not regularly available as many libraries will not lend them. A scan of a book chapter is much more likely to be filled. Please check out the textbooks on reserve program.

Log on to InterLibrary Loan

Lending Policies for Other Libraries