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Borrowing Materials
- For Distance Learners Only -
Everything You Need to Know

The information below pertains ONLY to CURRENTLY REGISTERED, off-campus Distance Learners.
The Document Delivery Department of the Health Sciences Library at UNC-Chapel Hill provides two services to Distance Learners:
  1. Delivery of materials owned by the UNC Libraries to your home (If you live outside the city of Chapel Hill)
  2. Acquiring of materials not owned by the UNC Libraries through Interlibrary Loan (ILL) for a fee.

What Can Be Requested?

Any material that normally circulates can be sent to you. Non-circulating materials such as periodicals, reference, reserve, archives, and other rare/fragile items cannot be borrowed. You may also request photocopies of articles from periodicals (magazines and journals) which are owned by this or other libraries on campus (within the restrictions of the copyright law).

How Do I Make A Request?

Fill out an online request through ILLiad. Use this form to request both materials you would like us to borrow for you from other libraries as well as materials owned by this library. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF AS A DISTANCE LEARNER on this form. Without this information, we may mistakenly deny your request for material owned by the UNC Libraries.

How Do I Fill Out the ILLiad Form?

Following these simple rules will speed the processing of your request:
  • Be sure to fill out the form completely and clearly. Incomplete or illegible forms will be cancelled.
  • Only ONE request per form.
  • To speed the process, please indicate the source of your reference, e.g. MEDLINE, CINAHL etc. Include page numbers, Unique Identifiers, Accession Numbers, or the abstract numbers from online or CD-ROM searches. If your source is another library's catalog, please tell us which one.
  • You must provide a complete citation -- incomplete forms will be cancelled. Do not use abbreviations for anything that is written out in full in your source. If the source uses abbreviations, copy them exactly as they appear.

What Does It Cost?

There is no charge for the delivery of books or photocopies owned by the UNC Libraries. You are, however, responsible for the cost of returning books to the Health Sciences Library. For your own protection, we suggest you return the books via "insured" U.S. Mail, the United Parcel Service (UPS), DHL, or FedEX. You are responsible for the books until they are received back at this Library.

If the Health Sciences Library has to order an article or book for you from another library, it will cost you $5.00 (plus a $5.00 rush fee if requested).

How Long Does It Take?

  • Materials Owned by UNC Libraries: We try to process requests within one working day. If an item is not available, we will let you know as soon as possible. Materials are electronically delivered. If you live in Chapel Hill, books must be picked up fom the library.
  • Interlibrary Loan Materials: It generally takes 7-10 days for your material to be received in this library. It may take much less or much more time, as many factors affect each request. We will forward materials to you within one working day of their receipt. YOU can speed the processing of your request by filling out the ILLiad form completely and clearly. If you have a deadline, be sure to put the latest possible date you can still use the material on your request form. If you do not have a deadline, please enter "none". We will make every effort to get your material in time.

How Long Can I Keep the Books?

  • Materials Owned by the UNC Libraries: There is a 28-day loan period for books. Books are checked out to you through the library's online circulation system and are subject to the usual User Services Department policies on borrowing materials. You may renew a book two (2) times as long as no other user wants it and your library account is clear. For more information, please contact the User Services Department
  • Interlibrary Loan Materials: The due date for loaned material is set by the lending library and will be indicated on the ILL slip in your book. Loan periods vary but are usually 1-2 weeks. Always return ILL materials to the Health Sciences Library. Do NOT return them to the lending library.
  • There is a $2.00 a day penalty for late returns.
  • Failure to return ILL materials on time jeopardizes the Health Sciences Library's ability to borrow in the future. IF YOU FAIL TO RETURN MATERIALS ON TIME, YOU WILL BE INELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE ILL PRIVILEGES.
  • Unlike Health Sciences Library books, renewals for ILL books are discouraged. Please plan to complete your work by the due date. Renewals should be requested only in unusual circumstances and must be asked for at least four (4) days before the original due date. Please direct requests for renewal of ILL books to the Document Delivery Department (not the User Services Dept.) Granting of renewals is entirely up to the lending library, which may, in addition, recall the book for use at their library at any time during the ILL loan period.

What Are My Responsibilities as A Borrower?

You are responsible for materials from the time you receive them until they are checked back in at this library. If the material is lost or damaged while in your possession, you must pay any repair, replacement, or processing fees which the lending library charges. If you are on campus, do not return ILL materials in any library's book drops - they must be brought inside to the Health Sciences Library User Services Desk ONLY!

What Are My Alternatives to Borrowing through the Health Sciences Library?

  • We are here to obtain needed materials for you; however, depending on where you live, it may be more advantageous for you to deal directly with a library in your area. Most libraries will allow on-site use of materials and photocopying; in some cases, you may be able to obtain borrowing privileges or a courtesy card.
  • For Interlibrary Loan in particular, you may get faster service if you use your local public library's Interlibrary Loan Service. If we do the borrowing, we must be the middleman in the transaction. The material must be sent to us -- then we send it to you. Using your public library eliminates some of the shipping time. The material will be sent to your public library for you to pick up there.
  • This library provides several resources which can help you locate/access needed materials. WorldCat, one of the FirstSearch databases, will allow you to identify libraries in the United States which may own a book or magazine you are looking for. Ingenta and some FirstSearch databases allow you to order journal articles with your credit card. In addition, this library provides access to a number of full-text electronic journals, which you can access at no charge. A Reference librarian will assist you in using any of these sources.
  • The Document Delivery department cannot arrange borrowing privileges for you at other libraries. We can, however, help you to locate holders of needed material and guide you in making decisions regarding the best way to obtain what you need. Don't hesitate to call us for assistance.

Whom Do I Contact for Further Information?

You can contact the Document Delivery Department by phone, (919)966-4998, or E-mail : hsl-ill@listserv.unc.edu