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Interlibrary Loan
Need something Doherty Library doesn’t own? Request it through Interlibrary Loan (ILL), a service that borrows books, articles, and other research materials from participating libraries.
ILL Eligibility and Requestable Materials
Who Can Use ILL?
Current University of St. Thomas students, faculty, and staff with library accounts in good standing.
What Can I Request?
You may request:
- Books
- Journal articles
- Book chapters
- Theses and dissertations
- Other research materials, subject to lending library policies
Items available through Doherty Library (print or online) cannot be requested through ILL unless they are confirmed to be lost or missing. Please search the Library Catalog and Journal Search before submitting a request.
Request an Interlibrary Loan
Need a book, article, or other research material that isn’t available through the University of St. Thomas Library? Submit an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) request, and we’ll work with partner libraries to obtain it for you. Before submitting your request, please search the Library Catalog and Journal Search to confirm the item is not already available.
Once your request form has been submitted, you will receive email notifications with updates on the status of your request, including when your item is available or if additional information is needed.
Service Details
| Delivery Times | Delivery times vary based on availability. Articles: typically 1–3 business days. Books and other physical items: typically 5–10 business days. |
| Delivery Method | Articles are delivered electronically. Physical items must be picked up at the Doherty Library Circulation Desk. You will receive an email notification when your request is ready. |
| Loan Periods | Due dates are determined by the lending library. Renewals are generally not available but may be requested before the due date. Borrowers are responsible for ILL materials until they are returned to Doherty Library. |
| Fees | Interlibrary Loan is usually free. If a lending library charges a fee, you will be contacted for approval before your request is processed. |
| Borrower Responsibilities | Borrowers are responsible for any fees, overdue fines, or replacement costs assessed by the lending library. Failure to return materials or pay charges will result in the suspension of library borrowing privileges. |
Policies
ILL services comply with U.S. Copyright Law, the Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States, and the policies of the lending library.
Interlibrary Loan is intended for research materials and is generally not a reliable way to obtain required course textbooks.
Other Resource Sharing Services
Looking for another way to access library materials? Learn more about our additional resource sharing services.
Loans Department Contact Information
HOURS: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m
Mailing Address
Doherty Library
University of St. Thomas
3800 Montrose Blvd.
Houston, TX 77006-4626
Updated: July 21, 2026