Libraries

Interlibrary Loan FAQ

Q. What is Interlibrary Loan?

A. Interlibrary Loan ( ILL ) is a service provided to obtain loans of books and copies of articles which the MCPHS Libraries do not own. The ILL Office fills requests through local, regional and national library sources. Libraries lend books and supply photocopies in accordance with copyright laws.

Q. Who may use this service?

A. All current MCPHS students, staff and faculty are eligible for this service.

Q. Where can I find help with my Interlibrary Loan questions?

A. The Interlibrary Loan Office is located in the Boston Health Sciences Library behind the Circulation Desk. The office has a service window located next to the photocopy room. It is staffed Monday through Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. You may also get help with questions at the Circulation and Reference Desks in your library.

To contact the ILL Coordinator, send an e-mail to Susan.Mahnken@mcphs.edu or call Susan S. Mahnken at 617-732-2807.

Q. What items may be borrowed through Interlibrary Loan?

A. Anything not owned by the MCPHS Henrietta DeBenedictis Library may be borrowed. The following types of materials are not usually available through Interlibrary Loan, but we will be happy to try and borrow them for you:

  • VHS tapes or DVDs
  • Items which are considered Reference materials
  • Textbooks
  • Theses/Dissertations

Q. How much does it cost?

A. We are able to obtain most requested items free of charge. Please read the ILL Policies available on the website for further information. If we cannot obtain the item free of charge, we will contact you by e-mail. The minimum fee charged by most libraries is $12.00.

Q. How do I request an item?

A. Complete an Interlibrary Loan Request Form. Print forms are also available in the main library on the Boston campus.

Q. How many items may I request?

A. You may submit 3 requests per business day. Any extra requests will be held in a pending file and added at the rate of 3 per day, to a maximum of 10 per week.

Q. What does the field “This article will not be needed if it is not received by:” mean?

A. This is the last date that the material will be useful for you. If we are unable to fill your request by the date you have given, it will be canceled. Please do NOT use ASAP or RUSH on your requests. These terms are ambiguous and using them will delay the processing of your request. We always fill all requests as quickly as possible.

Q. How long will it take for my materials to arrive?

A. If the article that you have requested is at Countway Medical Library, we will usually be able to obtain it within 3 business days. The average turnaround time for articles not at Countway is 7-10 days. It generally takes between 10-14 days to receive a book. Start your projects early! The articles that you need may not be available at the last minute.

Request forms which are illegible, which are submitted with incorrect or incomplete information delay processing of the request and receipt of the material.

Q. Why do you ask where I found my citation?

A. We ask that you tell us where you found your citation and give any identifying number (Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, etc.) so that if there are any questions or problems with your request, we can review the original information and hopefully find some clues.

Q. How will I be notified that my materials have arrived and where do I pick them up?

A. Barring unusual circumstances, all requests are processed within 48 hours. You will receive an e-mail if there is a problem with your request, or if the item you have requested is not available within the time frame you listed. Make sure that you check your e-mail regularly.

Articles

Barring unusual circumstances, all articles will be e-mailed directly to patrons. We receive the majority of articles within three business days.

If you have not received the requested article or an e-mail after three business days, visit or contact the Interlibrary Loan Coordinator, Susan S. Mahnken.
Phone: 617-732-2807
E-mail: Susan.Mahnken@mcphs.edu

Books

If a book is requested, you will receive an e-mail when the book arrives. Students should pick up all books at the Circulation Desk in their campus Library. Books for faculty and staff will be delivered through inter-office mail.

Q. How long may I keep my material?

A. Articles are yours to keep. The loan period for a book is set by the lending library, but the average loan period is three weeks. Be sure to leave the identification band on the cover of the book.

Q. May I renew books I’ve borrowed through Interlibrary Loan?

A. You should make every effort to complete your use of the ILL material within the original loan period. Most, but not all, libraries permit one renewal. If you need a renewal, please contact us at least four days before the due date. The renewal period is usually two weeks.