How to get resources our library does not have?: Main

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

If the item you need is not available at James White Library or through MeLCat, you may request it from another library using the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service.

Faculty and students may request:

• Journal articles not held at James White Library
• Books and other materials not available through MeLCat

To place a request, simply click on the Make a ILL Request button above, and complete and submit the form.

How it works:

• Requests are sent by email to the Resource Sharing Office for processing.
• Journal articles are delivered electronically and emailed directly to you.
• Books and other physical materials are shipped to James White Library. You will receive an email when your item is ready for pick up at the Circulation Desk.

For questions, please contact the Interlibrary Loan team at ill@andrews.edu.

InterLibrary Loan Policy

Types of Materials Borrowed

• Books, dissertations, and articles that are not available at the JWL may be obtained through interlibrary loan according to the policies of the lending libraries.

Types of Materials That May Not Be Borrowed

• Exclusions: Anything that is available in JWL in print, microform, electronic, or other formats; items which are free on the Web; textbooks currently in use; reference books, entire sets of books or serials; rare or fragile materials; materials for recreation, entertainment, hobbies, genealogy, etc.; materials for the needs of friends and family members.

Cost

• This is a free service.
• The patron is responsible for letting ILL staff know if they no longer need the item. The patron will be charged $5.00/item for the return of non-picked-up items.
• The borrowers assume financial responsibility for replacement of lost or damaged materials while books are checked out under their names.
• Replacement cost includes cost of the book plus processing.

Limits

• Each eligible patron may submit no more than 10 requests within the same week.

Notification

• When the borrowed materials arrive, patrons are notified by email, phone, or postal mail.
• Photocopies are sent electronically, by campus mail, or U.S. mail. Electronically delivered articles must be opened within 24 hours because of the time limit on the server. OCLC allows up to 5 days before the article is removed from its servers. Andrews email works best for electronically delivered articles.

Receiving and Returning

• Books and Dissertations - Pick up from and return to the Circulation desk. Since these are borrowed from other libraries, they must be returned on time to maintain good relations with the lending libraries.
• Photocopies - No need to return.

Use of ILL Materials

• Patrons are required to comply with regulations, restrictions, and deadlines set by the lending library. All materials on loan are subject to immediate recall by the lending library.
• Materials restricted to "Library Use Only" must be used inside the library in exchange for patron's Andrews ID card and returned to the circulation desk before closing time.

Renewals

• No renewals unless in extenuating circumstances. When such a situation arises, renewal requests must be submitted to the Resource Sharing Manager no later than three days before the date due to give time to communicate with the lending library.
• No phone renewals, please.
• The book must be returned with the original date due label and book band to the Circulation desk. If the lending library does not grant the renewal request, please return the book as soon as notified.

Responsibility

It is the patron's responsibility to:

• Verify that items requested are not in James White Library in any format or freely available on the Web.
• Provide honest and accurate information.
• Keep track of requests sent.
• Request items that can be read within the limited time period.
• Follow up requests not received two weeks after they have been submitted.
• Cancel requests no longer needed.
• Respond immediately to all communications.
• Return borrowed items on time and in good condition.
• Comply with all regulations and restrictions placed by the lending library including loan period, renewal, and reproduction.
• Abide by U.S. Copyright law.

The ILL Office reserves the right to accept or reject requests depending on the circumstances.

Patrons who abuse the system, present problems, or refuse to abide by policies and regulations will forfeit their interlibrary loan privileges.

Policies are subject to change at any time.

The ILL Office does not take any responsibility for patron's violation of copyright laws or plagiarism.

MelCat

MeLCat is currently unavailable and is expected to return no earlier than January, 2026.

MeLCat (short for Michigan eLibrary Catalog) is a statewide resource-sharing system in Michigan.

It’s an online catalog where library users can search for and borrow materials (books, DVDs, CDs, etc.) from hundreds of participating public, academic, school, and special libraries across Michigan.

Here’s how it works:

• If your own library (like James White Library) doesn’t have an item, you can request it through MeLCat.
• The system will locate a copy at another participating library.
• That library ships the item to your home library, where you can pick it up.
• When you’re done, you just return it to your library, and it’s sent back.

MeLCat expands what’s available to you far beyond your local library’s shelves.