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.

How is ILLiad better than traditional ILL systems?

1. 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.
2. Your request will be handled more rapidly and accurately as problems relating to misinterpretation of hand-written requests are eliminated.
3. You can get many of your photocopies more quickly through Electronic Delivery.
4. 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.
5. 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.

Are there any disadvantages to the electronic system?

Some people might find it troublesome to have to log into ILLiad using a username and password. We believe this is less trouble than traditional paper and electronic systems which require you to enter your personal information with each new request.

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

Your username and password allows us to give you secure access to information about your interlibrary loan requests. We can also enable you to edit your personal information such as your address or phone number.

Your username can be anything you like, such as your name, abbreviations, or an alphanumeric code. Your password also 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 you will be able to reset it yourself on the ILLiad login screen page. Select the "Forgot Password" link on the logon page. This link will direct you to a screen where all you have to do is enter your ILLiad username and click the "Reset Password" button. A message will be sent to the email account you listed in your ILLiad registration, providing you with instructions on resetting your password. If you do not receive the email with instructions on resetting your password within a few hours after clicking the "Reset Password" button or if you forget your ILLiad username please contact Midwestern University Library Access Services at ILLiad@midwestern.edu.

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.

Is security a problem if I use a public workstation?

Yes. Web browsers cache information and create a history file on the local workstation. This allows a subsequent user of the workstation to access the system under your name using the browser's Back button to recall a page from the cache, or by finding a page with your personal information in the browser's history file. If you are concerned about the security of your interlibrary loan requests, you can take the following steps:

• Access ILLiad only from your personal computer or an otherwise secure workstation.
• When using a public access workstation:
  1. You can click the Logoff link in the upper left hand corner of your personalized ILLiad main menu page.
  2. Delete from the history file those pages that contain your personal information.
  3. Exit from the Web browser before you leave the workstation. This prevents the Back button from accessing the pages you were using.

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 order to comply with record keeping requirements of the copyright law.

What is electronic delivery?

Many libraries ship photocopies of articles to us in electronic format. In the past we printed these articles before delivering them to you. Now, through ILLiad, we are able to offer you the option of electronic delivery of these articles in PDF format (Adobe's Portable Document Format). You can read more about electronic delivery on the Electronic Delivery Information page.

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

Please call (630) 515-6200 or e-mail ILLiad@midwestern.edu

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.

How do I check on the status of my ILLiad request?

Logon to ILLiad. Click on the "Outstanding Requests" link to view a list of all of your requests that are still being processed in ILLiad. "Outstanding Requests" will display in a list format by the ILLiad Transaction Number, Request Type, Request Title, Request Author and the ILLiad Status. Click on the appropriate ILLiad transaction number you want to make a status check on and you will view a more detailed display of your request information. You can also cancel and edit requests from this detailed view. If you cannot find your request in the "Outstanding Requests" view you can also click on the links for "Checked Out Items", "Cancelled Requests", "History Requests" and "All Requests" and look for the requests in these lists.

What does the ILLiad Status term of my request mean?

Here are definitions for the most common ILLiad Status terms:

Awaiting Copyright Clearance: Request is being reviewed by MWU ILL staff in order to determine if any copyright fees need to be paid by MWU Library to obtain the requested article.

Awaiting Document Delivery Processing: Requested item has been routed to MWU Library staff and will be supplied from the MWU Library collection.

Awaiting Doc Provider Processing: MWU Library needs to pay copyright fees for the requested item and will be obtaining the article from a commercial document service.

Awaiting Request Processing: MWU Library staff has received your request and is in process of searching for potential lenders for your request.

Delivered to Web: Your request is available from your personal ILLiad page where you can print or view the PDF document by selecting item from “Electronically Received Articles.”

In DD Stacks Searching: Your request is located in the MWU Library collection and ILL staff is retrieving item from the stacks.

In Electronic Delivery Processing: Your request has been received by MWU Library and is being processed for web delivery to your personal ILLiad page.

Received Incorrect/Partial Item: Your request has been received but the item sent is either incorrect or incomplete, MWU ILL staff is in process of correcting the error.

Request Finished: Your request has been successfully filled and completed.

Request in Processing: Your request has been received by MWU Library and is currently being processed by ILL staff.

Request Sent: MWU Library ILL staff has placed an order for your request from a potential lending library and is awaiting shipment of the item to MWU Library.

*If the ILLiad Status term you have a question about is not included in this short list, please email Midwestern University Access Services at ILLiad@midwestern.edu for more information.

When will I receive the materials I requested on ILLiad?

Article/photocopy requests are usually received in 4-10 working days. Book, Book Chapter and Thesis/Dissertation requests are usually received in 7-14 working days.

Is there a charge for library materials I request on ILLiad?

Midwestern University Library sponsors the borrowing fees for outside library materials. Therefore, we do not charge the Midwestern University community for library materials requested on ILLiad.

How do I change my book pick up location, email or phone number?

Logon to ILLiad. Click on the "Edit User Information" link located under the "Tools" menu on the lower left hand section of your ILLiad "Main Page". ILLiad will display all of the information you entered when you registered. You can change your personal information, including selecting a new pickup location for books. After editing your personal information click the "Submit Information" button at the bottom of the page. Your new user information will be changed in ILLiad.

What should I do if another person places my ILL requests for me?

You or the person(s) who place requests for you, should register for ILLiad once, and then all of you should share the username and password for the single account you have created.

How do I renew a book I have checked out?

If "Renewal Is Allowed" is written on the book band on the front of your item, Logon to ILLiad. Click on the "Checked Out Items" link to view a list of the books and thesis you currently have checked out. Click on the ILLiad Transaction Number of the request you want to renew. Click on the"Renew Request" link at the top of the detailed transaction display. ILLiad will update you that a renewal has been requested for this transaction. The book or thesis is not yet renewed, Midwestern University Library staff will need to contact the lending library to request a renewal of the book or thesis. Not all renewal requests are granted by Lending libraries. Only one renewal is allowed for Interlibrary Loan borrowed books and thesis. Renewal requests should be submitted before the due date listed for the item you want to renew. If the renewal requested is approved by the lending library your ILLiad record will be updated to reflect the new due date as determined by the lending library. If the renewal requested is not granted you by the lending library you will be contacted by Midwestern University Library staff regarding the return of the book or thesis.

How do I view or print electronically delievered articles/photocopies?

Logon to ILLiad. Click on the "Electronically Received Articles" link to view a list of all of your requests that have a posted PDF article available for viewing or printing. Choose an ILLiad Transaction from the list and click directly on the PDF icon next to the appropriate Transaction. This will open up the PDF document for viewing or printing. You can also click on the ILLiad Transaction number from the list to view more in depth details of the request, including a link to "View PDF".

How do I cancel an ILLiad request?

Logon to ILLiad. Click on the "Outstanding Requests" link to view a list of all of your requests that are still being processed in ILLiad. Click on the appropriate ILLiad transaction number you want to cancel. This will display your request and will include a link at the top of the page to "Cancel Request." Clicking on this link will cancel your request. If the request you are cancelling is for an item that Midwestern University Libraries do not own there may still be a $3.00 charge to you for the request because it may be too late to cancel the Interlibrary Loan order that has been placed with a library outside the Midwestern University Libraries system.

How do I resubmit a cancelled ILLiad request?

Logon to ILLiad. Click on the "Cancelled Requests" link to view a list of all of your cancelled ILLiad requests. Click on the ILLiad Transaction number of the request you want to resubmit. This will display your request and will include a link at the top of the page to "Resubmit Request." Clicking on this link will open an ILLiad Edit Request form which you can review and make any necessary changes to the request and then click the "Submit Request" button at the bottom of the form. Your ILLiad request will then be resubmitted.

What if I need more than 10 requested articles at one time?

Midwestern University Library strives to fill requests as they are received. If a high number of articles have been requested at once, it will take us several days to process them.  We will get to them all for you as quickly as we can.  In the future, if you have need for more than 10 or more articles to request, you may want to prioritize them and submit the most important ones one day and then more on another day.  You may also want to watch for duplicates. You can read more about electronic delivery of articles on the Electronic Delivery Information page.

May I request popular materials?

Many other libraries do not interlibrary-loan their popular books or materials in other formats. The MWU library will fund borrowing a limited number of items that are not health related.