Access Services: Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

What is Interlibrary Loan?

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is essentially a group of libraries around the world that agree to share physical and electronic resources with each other. What this means for students and professors is even if PVAMU doesn't have the desired resource, it can still be retrieved by filling out an ILL request form.

How do I submit an ILL request?

To fill out a form for a ILL request, click here or follow the instructions below.

1. Start by going to the library website (https://www.pvamu.edu/library/).
2. Scroll down below the main search bar and click on Interlibrary Loan in the 4th column above the Digital Commons.
3. Follow the instructions on the page. The instructions might differ if you are on or off campus.
4. Choose what type of medium you are requesting (book, journal, thesis, etc...).
5. Sign in to your Library Account. Please note that the sign-in credentials are unlike other credentials. The password is simply your last name and the password is your Panther ID starting with a capital P, e.g. P841239874.
6. Fill out the form with as much metadata about the resource as possible (author, title, publisher, etc...).
7. Submit the request.

Additional Information

• ILL requests typically take about a week if you are making a request for a physical book. The wait time depends on the lending library, not John B. Coleman Library. We will notify you both when we found a library to lend from and when John B. Coleman has the physical resource.
• ILL requests for electronic resources are typically much faster than physical as there is no wait for shipping.
• This is a free service. However, some lending libraries do charge a fee. Depending on the fee, the library or the student / faculty will pay for it. Please note that this is a very rare case and if there is a fee it's usually less than $10.
• If you have any questions or want an update on your request, please contact either Mr. Ervin or Ms. Streety.

Books and articles not owned by the John B. Coleman Library and not available to us via online resources may be borrowed from other libraries upon request.

ILL requests are to be requested online by the requester. You are required to use your PVAMU email account. If you do not know or use your PVAMU email account – call (936) 261-1535 or (936) 261-1542 for assistance.

Text books should not be ordered through ILL. Text books requests may be cancelled. Items owned by the John B. Coleman Library should not be ordered through ILL and may be cancelled if requested.

Each lending library establishes its loan period, conditions for use of materials (e.g... “library use only”, “no renewals”), and loan and/or copying fees. Students, faculty and staff of Prairie View must abide by these policies even though they may differ from our own Library’s policies.

Most items will be obtained at no charge, but occasional fees arise. The borrower must indicate the maximum they are willing to pay when submitting the request. We always try to obtain materials free of charge if possible. If there is a fee associated with your request (up to the amount indicated on the request form), the charges will be automatically added to your account with the Business Office. Other arrangements may be made by contacting the Interlibrary Loan Coordinator. Faculty and staff must pay the fees before the material is received.

The borrower is also responsible for any overdue charges or other expenses incurred. As a courtesy, one overdue notice on an ILL item is sent. No new items may be picked up until overdue items are returned.

Materials requested through Interlibrary Loan may be picked up at the Circulation Counter using a valid PVAMU ID card. Some photocopies without charges will be sent to faculty and staff members via the campus mail. Photocopies need not be returned to the library. Other materials should be returned directly to the Circulation Counter. Please DO NOT place ILL items in the book drops. Items can be sent to the Northwest Houston Center and the College of Nursing (your pick-up location needs to have Northwest Houston Center or College of Nursing noted as such). Items may be returned to the Northwest Houston Center or the College of Nursing – request a receipt from the Librarian on duty. Items may be mailed to the Coleman Library at: Interlibrary Loan Dept., P.O. Box 519, MS 1040, Prairie View, TX 77446. DO NOT mail the item back to the library where the item was requested from (the lending library).

The full price and the processing fee if any will be charged for any lost book or item loaned from other universities or institutions. The fees are determined by the lending institution, not by the John B. Coleman Library. Each lost item will be reviewed case by case.