Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and Document Delivery

Do you need an item that the University of Alabama Libraries does not own?  We can try to get it for you. Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and Document Delivery are services provided by the University Libraries to support scholarly research and curriculum needs.  Current faculty, students, and staff are eligible to borrow materials from libraries around the world. The University Libraries subsidizes the costs of the service for our users.

What is the difference between ILL and Document Delivery?   

We use ILL to borrow or obtain an item from another institution.  Books and other kinds of physical materials must be returned to the institution.  Journal articles are most often scanned and sent to the person who requested the item and do not need to be returned.  

We use document delivery in two ways.  One is when we are unable to find a journal article via ILL.  We may be able to purchase the article and pay royalty and copyright fees.  

On campus, we deliver items held by UA libraries and the Annex either electronically or to a campus library.  

Items may be picked up at the Gorgas Library Circulation Desk on the 2nd floor.  

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research". If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. UA Libraries reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.

The University Libraries reserves the right to cancel requests that violate or exceed limits for copyright.  

Gorgas Library, 2nd floor 

Hours:  Monday - Friday, 8 am - 4:45 pm 

phone 205-348-4018

fax 205-348-9564 

email illstaff@ua.edu 

Mailing address: 

University of Alabama Libraries 

Gorgas Library/ILL Rm #2007 

Box 870266 

711 Capstone Dr. 

Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0266 

Cornelia Davis, Circulation Services Manager and ILL Supervisor  

Amanda Rogers, Borrowing 

Gaby Marcks, Lending to Other Libraries/Distance Ed. 

Rebekah Olmstead, Billing/ILL Information Desk 

Alina Amstutz, RapidILL