Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a service that allows Missouri State University students, faculty, and staff to request items that are not freely available from the MSU Libraries, databases, or general internet sources.

Place, Review, and Download Requests

You will be prompted to login. Use your Missouri State University BearPass Login.

Contact Shannon Conlon with any questions.

Distance Learners

Distance Learners for the purposes of this service are registered as Missouri State University students, take their classes off the Springfield campus (remote sites, online, etc.), and live outside of the Springfield city limits.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I renew my ILL?

Log in to your ILL account and select Renew Request. Follow this link for detailed ILL renewal instructions.

The option to renew will only be available (and visible) to you during the week *before* the due date.  If you do not see this option, please contact the Interlibrary Loan staff directly.

It is the prerogative of the owning library whether to grant renewals or not. Most institutions will allow at least one renewal, although some do not. 

How long can I keep my ILL?

Due dates are determined by the lending library, so they will vary. Articles (pdfs) received through ILL can be accessed for 30 days or 5 views, so please print or save pdf for future use.

How long will it take to get my ILL book?

There are many factors that affect how long it takes for a book to arrive. We receive items through the US Postal Service, and other distributors, as well as a courier. Where the book is coming from, the efficiency of the lending library and the difficulty in locating some materials are some of the factors. You will receive an email notification when the item arrives and is ready for you to pick up from the Information Desk.

Can I request an e-book through ILL?

We will try. The license agreement between a library and the vendor that hosts their eBook often will not allow Interlibrary Loan sharing, but some do! Also, there is a Notes box in the Request Form where you can let us know if you would accept the hard copy (if the eBook isn’t available).

Can my ILL books be delivered to my department?

A. Faculty and Staff in Academic Departments north of Harrison Street may request ILL books be delivered to their department office provided that their department participates in Campus Delivery. Check with your office first.

Can I get newly released books through Interlibrary Loan?

We will try. With new titles, libraries will be in the process of purchasing, but may not have received their copy yet. Some libraries have a policy of not circulating new titles through Interlibrary Loan to allow access to their local patrons first.

I’m an online-only student and I live over an hour away. What services can Interlibrary Loan provide?

We provide document delivery and Interlibrary Loan services for non-returnable materials (i.e. pdf of periodical article, pdf of book chapter).  If you have any questions, please contact us via illrequest@library.missouristate.edu or call 417-836-4540.

Why don’t I receive a notification when my request goes through?

A small confirmation box will briefly pop up (in the lower left corner of your screen). Also, a list of all submitted requests can be viewed in your Interlibrary Loan account.

I ordered a book and then did not pick it up, but I’m getting notifications that it is about to be overdue. Why is that?

We leave Interlibrary Loan items on the hold shelf until the item’s due date. When they become past due and have not been picked up, we send them back to the lending library. If you order an Interlibrary Loan and no longer need the book, please let us know and we will go ahead and return it to the lending library. (Please keep in mind that we incur costs with each Interlibrary Loan!)