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Cite-Checking Guide for Journal Members

Interlibrary Loan Services

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) allows UConn Law faculty, students, and staff to borrow library materials from libraries all over the world.  We can help you obtain items that you need for cite checking that are not available at our library or accessible online.  This includes articles, books, and book chapters.  The ILL system is called tILLapia, and you should have one person responsible for coordinating your journal's ILL requests.

Please note that you cannot submit ILL requests for items that are available to you in full text online.  This includes any documents available on Westlaw, Lexis, or Bloomberg.

In addition, copies or images of manuscripts or archival materials that are not already digitized are generally not available for ILL.  If you need to obtain these materials, contact your journal liaison, who will assist you as much as possible.

International materials can be particularly difficult to obtain through ILL, especially if you cannot find them in Worldcat.  For assistance, please contact your journal liaison.

For general information about ILL, and instructions on submitting requests, please see our Interlibrary Loan Services research guide.  If you have questions about ILL, please contact docdel.lawlib@uconn.edu or your journal liaison.

Journal ILL Responsibilities

1.  You must ensure that all appropriate print and online sources available to you have been checked BEFORE submitting an ILL request.  This includes the following sources:

For books or book chapters:

  • UConn Law Library catalog
    • If you can locate the book in the catalog, follow journal procedures to submit a Library2Go scanning request.
    • If the book is marked missing in the catalog, you may submit an ILL request.  If the book is checked out, please submit a recall request at the main desk instead of an ILL request.
  • UConn main library catalog.  The book or chapter may be available online through the main UConn library.  If the book is only available in print from the main library, you may place an ILL request for it.

For articles:

  • UConn Law Library catalog.  Search everything to see if you can access the article through the library’s electronic resources.
  • UConn main library catalog.  Many articles that are not listed in the UConn Law Library catalog will be accessible from the main UConn Library catalog.
  • UConn law e-Journal search.  If you cannot find the article itself, please search for the journal to see if you have access to article in that way.
  • UConn main library e-Journal search.  If you cannot find the journal in the UConn Law Library e-Journal list, please check the UConn main library e-Journal list because many additional journals will be accessible from this source.
  • If you can find the item on Westlaw, Lexis, or Bloomberg, you cannot submit an ILL request for it.  Please check all three.
  • Google Scholar.  You can link Google Scholar to the UConn library, which will often direct you to the full text of an article.  Check out our Remote Research Guide for instructions on adding UConn links to Google Scholar.

2.  When possible, you should find the item that you need in Worldcat, and submit your ILL request through the “Request Item Through Interlibrary Loan” link.  Never submit an ILL request for an item labeled as an “electronic resource.”  You may have to add information to the request before submitting.

3.  Please provide as much information as possible when submitting an ILL request.  If you do not know where to put the information on the form, please do the best you can and include a full citation in the notes section.  If you have questions about a citation, contact your journal liaison.

4.  You must return all materials undamaged and on time.  This includes notifying the library that “in library use only” books may be returned.

5.  When in doubt, ask questions BEFORE you submit an ILL request.  This will allow you to get the items you need faster.

How long does ILL take?

After you submit an ILL request online, it will usually be processed within 2 business days.  You should receive a notice that the item is available either online or in the library within 1 to 3 weeks.

Often, articles and book chapters received as PDF files will be delivered faster than books that must be shipped from another library.

ILL books are only loaned for 4 to 6 weeks, and renewals are not always granted.  Please pay attention to the due dates and return all items promptly.

If you are concerned about the status of a request, login to your ILL account, email docdel.lawlib@uconn.edu, or inquire at the Main Desk.