Interlibrary loan (ILLiad)

Go directly to our interlibrary loan system, ILLiad

Our interlibrary loan (ILL) service enables Tufts students, faculty, staff, and affiliate researchers to borrow books, CDs, DVDs, microfilm, and other materials from libraries worldwide. The service also provides scans of journal articles and book chapters from other libraries. 

Borrowing items through Interlibrary Loan

Are you a member of the Tufts community?

If you need an item that is not available at a Tufts library, you can submit a request using our interlibrary loan (ILL) system, ILLiad. 

You'll be able to view the status of your request in your ILLiad account. Once the item arrives at Tufts, you'll receive an email notification. Come to the Information and Circulation Desk to borrow your material.  

Are you from another library and want to borrow something from Tufts?

Visit our page on Lending for other libraries and organizations for more information.

Frequently asked questions

How long can I borrow an item through ILL? 

It depends. The lending library decides when the book needs to be returned. Some loans are as long as 16 weeks, some are shorter. 

How long will it take for my request to be filled? 

The average turnaround time for an article to be scanned and sent by another library is 2 to 3 days, and the average time for a book to be delivered from another library is about a week. Some requests might take longer, depending on how rare an item is, or whether or not it’s in high demand at other libraries. 

If you want to check on the status of your ILL request, reach out to us at ill@tufts.edu. 

My ILL item is almost due. How do I renew it? 

Some ILL items can be renewed, and some can’t. Your ILL item will come with paperwork that should indicate whether or not the item can be renewed. When you log into your ILLiad account and view your current loans, there will be a “Request Renewal” button if the item is eligible for renewal. If the renewal is approved by the library that we borrowed from, you’ll receive an email with the new due date. 

Reach out to us at ill@tufts.edu if you need help requesting a renewal. 

My ILL item is past due. Can I request a renewal?

We are unable to renew overdue items. Once an overdue item is returned, you are welcome to place another request for the same title through ILLiad.

How much of a book can I request to have scanned?  

It can vary, but copyright guidelines only allow us to request one or two chapters at most, and no more than 20% of a book’s total number of pages. 

I recently returned my ILL item. Why is it still checked out to me?  

It can take up to 48 hours for an ILL return to be processed by our staff, after which the item will be taken off your account. 

Can I request an ILL item to be mailed to my current address?

Yes, if your home address is in the continental United States more than 20 miles from Tisch Library. Once the item arrives at the library, we can mail it to your home address within the continental U.S. Please select the “Mail my request” option on the ILLiad form when placing your request.

My ILL item is almost due, but I am currently away from campus. Can I return the item to you by mail?

Yes! Email us ill@tufts.edu if you need to return an item by mail, and we will send you a pre-paid shipping label.

How do I request mail delivery?

For items owned by Tufts: Once you find a book in JumboSearch you want to borrow, you can sign in and put a request on the item. When filling out the request form, select “Personal Delivery – Home Address” from the locations list. You will need to ensure your current mailing address is in the request form – this address can be updated within the request form as needed. 

For items requested through Interlibrary Loan: From the ILLiad request form, when choosing the Book option under New Requests, check the "Yes, I am fully remote. Mail my request" box to request home delivery of your ILL item.

The library will ship materials via UPS and will include a UPS return label. If for any reason, a return label is not included, email the library directly at tischfrontline@tufts.edu. 

Are all kinds of items available through Tisch home delivery? 

Unfortunately, no. Some interlibrary loan items may not be eligible for mail delivery. Lending libraries may limit their materials sent through ILL to in-library use only due to rarity or fragility. Some special items that Tufts owns, like microfilm, equipment, or periodicals, are also not available for home delivery. If you aren’t sure if your items are available for home delivery, you can email tischfrontline@tufts.edu (for materials owned by Tufts) or ill@tufts.edu (for Interlibrary Loan materials). 

What if I can’t come to the library? 

Members of the Tufts community who need accommodations for mail delivery can request them at the university level: 

OEO and/or the StAAR Center will then engage in the accommodation interactive process. If an accommodation is approved, they will communicate directly with the individuals requesting as well as the library. Library staff will add a note to the patron’s library account stating that they have received mail delivery accommodations, adding an end date as appropriate. 

In addition to the university’s accommodations process, Tisch Library offers a proxy service for checking out materials. 

How should patrons request a proxy? 

A proxy borrower allows faculty and staff members to designate another library user to check out materials directly onto the faculty or staff member’s account. Patrons requesting a proxy can visit the Tisch Library website’s information page. While proxies are for current Tufts faculty and staff, Tisch library staff can extend this to students with accommodation needs. Please follow the directions above to request accommodations. 

Questions about getting items delivered? 

Email tischfrontline@tufts.edu for assistance or more information on our Home Delivery process.

Are there any fees to use ILL? 

ILL is a free service for the Tisch Library community. 

I have more questions about Interlibrary Loan.

Call 617-627-6768; email ill@tufts.edu, or contact an interlibrary loan staff member.