Help for Students

If the specific book or article you need is not available in the library collections, we may be able to obtain it for you from another library. 

Who is eligible?  
Only current St. Louis Community College faculty, students and staff are eligible to request materials on Interlibrary Loan.

What materials can I request?     
Books, articles, and microfilm not available in the campus libraries or via MOBIUS can be requested. Videos, DVDs and other audiovisual materials are not available via Interlibrary Loan. Most libraries will not lend textbooks, reference books or materials in special collections. We reserve the right to limit the number of requests from an individual. 

What should I do before submitting a request?  
Please make sure the item is not available in a campus library by checking Archer Search as well as MOBIUS. If you need a journal, use Archer Search on our home page to see if it is available in print or electronic form at STLCC.

How and where do I pick up my requested items?  
You will be notified via St. Louis Community College email when items you have requested have arrived, or if we are unable to fill your request. Pick up and return Interlibrary Loan materials at your campus library circulation desk.

How long will it take?  
Most Interlibrary Loans take between 7 to 14 days to receive. Less than 7 days is unusual except for some emailed articles. Requests are not processed on weekends or when the college is closed. 

What does Interlibrary Loan cost?  
Some libraries assess a charge for providing books and photocopies through Interlibrary Loan. At present, St. Louis Community College does not pass these charges on to you. However, we do ask that you exercise judgment with regard to the number of items requested. All fees for lost or damaged Interlibrary Loan materials are the responsibility of the borrower.

How does Interlibrary Loan work?  
The Interlibrary Loan service supplements the holdings of St. Louis Community College Libraries and the state-wide MOBIUS libraries by obtaining materials from other libraries or commercial services to fill class-related research needs. Conditions for interlibrary loans are set by the National Interlibrary Loan Code of the American Library Association and by individual libraries. It is the prerogative of the lending library to set the loan period, refuse to lend materials, withhold permission to photocopy, and/or restrict materials to library use. As the borrowing library, we must adhere to all rules and restrictions of the lending library.

How do Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan differ?  
Document Delivery is for material owned by and available from a STLCC library other than your campus library.

Interlibrary Loan is for material not owned by or available through STLCC Libraries or MOBIUS. Videos, DVDs and other audiovisual materials are not available via Interlibrary Loan. Most libraries will not lend textbooks, reference books or materials in special collections.

Are there copyright restrictions?
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. 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. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of a copyright law.