Library Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Policy FAQ

What is interlibrary loan?
Thank you for your interest in our library's interlibrary loan service. The interlibrary loan program (or ILL) is a cooperative and voluntary system that allows us to borrow items from other libraries. Your prompt return of books ensures that other libraries will continue to loan their materials to JMLS and upholds our reputation as a responsible partner in the interlibrary loan system. Whether we can borrow items and for how long depends on the individual lending library.

What types of materials are loaned? 
How long Will It take?  
How will I know when the Item has arrived?
Who may request an ILL?
Can I submit the ILL request electronically?
How can I make an ILL request if I am an alum or CBA member?
How can I make an ILL request if I am a journal cite checker?
Who is the journal's designated ILL requestor?
What if I have questions about ILL as a journal editor?
What if I'm a student needing to requesting items for my own note or comment? What about for a class?
What if I want to go over to another library to borrow the item myself?
Who do I contact to borrow a book from John Marshall?

​What types of materials are loaned?
The JMLS Library can borrow circulating books and request photocopies of articles from journal and newspapers. Libraries generally do not loan reference books, rare books, loose-leaf volumes, books kept on reserve, multi-volume sets, textbooks, study guides, CD-ROMs, and DVDs.

​How long will It take?
Because the turnaround time for ILL requests averages about two weeks, be sure to make requests well in advance of your deadline.

​How will I know when the item has arrived?
Once an item arrives at the JMLS Library, the ILL Librarian will notify you via e-mail and then you can pick up your item at the JMLS library circulation desk.

​How long may I keep an item? may I renew?
Every book loaned will be clearly marked with the date it is due. Most books can be renewed, although the decision ultimately rests with the lending library. Be sure to request a renewal before the due date. If a book is returned late or lost, you will be responsible for any late fees or replacement charges. Photocopies of articles have no due date; they are yours to keep.

​Who may request an ILL?
The John Marshall Law School Library provides interlibrary loan services to JMLS students, faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as to members of the Chicago Bar Association.

​Can I submit the ILL request electronically?
JMLS students, faculty, and staff may request an item directly from WorldCat for their own personal use. To order electronically, locate the corresponding WorldCat record for an item using FirstSearch.  Once the record for the desired item is found, click on the 'Borrow this item from another library' link and fill in all fields. If the request is for a journal's cite-checking, please contact the official ILL requestor for the journal.

This is the stated policy for electronic requests on every Worldcat request form:

Thank you for your interest in our library's interlibrary loan service. The interlibrary loan program (or ILL) is a cooperative and voluntary system that allows us to borrow items from other libraries. Your prompt return of books ensures that other libraries will continue to loan their materials to JMLS and upholds our reputation as a responsible partner in the interlibrary loan system. Whether we can borrow items and for how long depends on the individual lending library. Some types of items, such as multivolume sets, looseleafs, rare books, textbooks, and study guides cannot be borrowed from other libraries via interlibrary loan. If an item is available at a CLAS library (one of the Chicago-area law academic law libraries), it will be easier to borrow, or in the alternative, as a John Marshall faculty, student or staff member, you can go to that library yourself to look at (but not check out) the materials. This request form is only available to JMLS faculty, students, and staff. To verify your JMLS status, please include your JMLS email address below. ONLY FOR STUDENT JOURNALS: As of August 1, 2007, all Law Review, all JCIL, and all RIPL requests relating to cite-checking or source-pulling MUST BE REQUESTED via the journal's ILL requestor. Items for notes and comments can be requested via this form.

​How can I make an ILL request if I am an alum or CBA member?
Please contact Rebecca Ryan  (312) 427-2737 ext 643 with as much information as possible. Please keep in mind that not everything of interest can be borrowed from another library, especially if the materials are needed quickly.

​How can I make an ILL request if I am a journal cite checker?
You cannot directly make a request for journal cite-checking unless you are the designated ILL person. Please complete the checklist for the item you need and then give the information to the designated ILL person for your article.

​Who is the journal's designated ILL requestor?
Please check with your direct editor or the editor-in-chief of your journal.

​What if I have questions about ILL as a journal editor?
If you have questions as a journal editor, contact Jamie Sommer by e-mail or at 312-427-2737 xt 308.

​What if I'm a student needing to request items for my own note or comment? What about for a class?
As long as the item you are requesting is not for source-pulling /cite-checking for a journal, you can request it individually electronically.

​What if I want to go over to another library to borrow the item myself?
If an item is available at a CLAS library (one of the Chicago-area law academic law libraries), if you are a John Marshall faculty, student or staff member, you can go to that library yourself to look at (but not check out) the materials. If you want to borrow the item, you have to borrow it through interlibrary loan.

​Who Do I Contact to Borrow a Book from John Marshall?
If you need information on borrowing a book from the John Marshall Law School please contact Rebecca Ryan  (312) 427-2737 ext 643.