How Long Will it Take?

Since libraries throughout the country supply us with books and articles, it is difficult to predict how long it will take to receive your item. It may take from one to four weeks, or even a few months, for materials to arrive, depending on where they are coming from, which library from the group of potential lenders we have selected to fill the request, and which delivery method is used.

If you need an item by a specific deadline, please indicate in your request the date after which material cannot be used. If you would like us to rush your request, please indicate that information in the additional information field. If we are unable to fill your request by this date, your request will be canceled.

Whenever possible, requests are borrowed from a holding library in the Triangle and delivered by courier. Otherwise, requests are borrowed from another holding library and delivered by mail. Whenever possible, requested articles are transmitted electronically. Photocopies may be faxed, depending on copy quality, length of the article, and the policies of the supplying library. As a result, a number of routine transactions may be filled in less than one week, and most are filled within a couple of weeks.

Requests are sent electronically to potential lenders. If the requested item is not available at the first library to which the request has been sent, the request will be automatically forwarded to another library. If the first group of potential lenders is not able to supply the requested item, the request will be send out again to a new group of potential lenders until all the lenders have been exhausted or the need-by date has been reached, whichever comes first.

Because ILL cannot predict the location or availability of an item, we cannot guarantee that material will be received within a specified time period. Borrowers are encouraged to submit ILL requests well in advance of deadlines, and to request status updates at regular intervals.