Interlibrary Loan (ILL) provides eligible UTB/TSC borrowers access to library materials not owned or available at the Arnulfo L. Oliveira Memorial Library. Interlibrary Loan is made possible by cooperative sharing agreements with other libraries. The Library expands its borrowing and lending capabilities through consortial memberships with AMIGOS and TexShare and through its participation in the OCLC cooperative network.

ILL services are available to UTB/TSC students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Members of the Arnulfo L. Oliveira Literary Society as well as retired UTB/TSC faculty and staff may also use Interlibrary Loan Services. Non-UTB/TSC borrowers from the community are encouraged to use the Brownsville Public Library to obtain materials through Interlibrary Loan.

Users begin by requesting an item online via ILLiad. First time users must create an ILLiad account before submitting a request. Once logged into ILLiad, users should complete the form that corresponds to the item being requested (i.e. book, article). Users must provide enough information about the item, so that it can be identified and located. Incomplete requests will result in delays and possible cancellation of the request. Once a request has been submitted, users can view and track the request online, using the ILLiad system. Users experiencing difficulties with submitting ILL requests, should contact the Interlibrary Loan Department for assistance.

When materials arrive, users will be notified by e-mail. Items should be picked up at the Periodicals & Interlibrary Loan Desk, located in the back of the library on the 1st floor. Users will be required to show an ID card when borrowing books and other materials.

Interlibrary Loan services are free to eligible borrowers, if materials can be obtained from a library that has agreed to provide materials to UTB/TSC at no charge. If the lending library will charge UTB/TSC to borrow a requested item, the user will be contacted to approve the charges and make arrangements for payment. Every effort will be made to obtain materials from libraries that do not charge. Users are responsible for all charges associated with Interlibrary Loan requests, even if requested items are not picked up. Unpaid charges will result in a block on a user's UTB/TSC official record.

Interlibrary Loan lending policies are set by the National Interlibrary Loan Code of the American Library Association and by individual libraries. Most books and photocopies of journal, magazine, and newspaper articles are easily obtained through Interlibrary Loan. Some libraries restrict the lending of certain materials.

Items that are difficult to obtain include:

• CD-ROMs and software
• Audiovisual materials (video and audio cassettes, DVDs)
• Rare and archival materials
• Reference books
• Theses and dissertations
• Maps

Items that cannot be obtained include:

• Items owned by the Arnulfo L. Oliveira Memorial Library, including items checked out by another user.
• Entire issues (including photocopies of entire issues) of journals, magazines, and newspapers.
• Textbooks, required to be purchased for a course.

Items owned by UTB/TSC that have been declared missing, lost or damaged, can be requested through Interlibrary Loan.

Requested materials typically arrive within 5-10 days after an ILL request is submitted. However, there is no way to know when an item will arrive. Delivery time is related to the nature of the item, the lending library's procedures, availability of materials, and the delivery service used. Photocopies tend to arrive much faster than books. Please be sure to allow enough time to receive and use requested items.

If the item is a photocopy, a user can keep it in most cases. For loans of books or other items, the lending library sets the length of time and any special conditions of the loan, such as "library use only" or "non-renewable". The due date will be indicated on the book strap of the requested item. To request an extension of the due date, or renewal, contact the Interlibrary Loan Office, or use the View/Renew Checked Out Items feature on ILLiad. In most cases, up to two renewals of two weeks each are permitted by lenders. Renewal requests should be submitted before the item due date. The UTB/TSC Library will strictly enforce due dates and lending restrictions imposed by lending libraries.

All items should be returned to the Periodicals & Interlibrary Loan Desk on or before the due date. Items should never be placed in the Library book drop or returned to the Circulation Desk.

The due date will be indicated on the book strap of a requested item. Items should be returned to the Periodicals & Interlibrary Loan Desk on or before the due date. ILL requests will not be accepted from borrowers with overdue ILL materials. Users will receive an email notice if an item is kept past its due date. After the third overdue notice, items will be assumed lost, and will be reported to the lending library. A block will be placed on the user's library account and UTB/TSC official record until the item is returned. Suspension or termination of a user's ILL borrowing privileges will result, if a user repeatedly fails to abide by due dates for ILL materials.

Lost or damaged materials are subject to charges imposed by the lending library. Users who lose or damage an item will be responsible for all fees and replacement charges and will be contacted to make payment arrangments.

Users who forget their ILLiad password should contact the Interlibrary Loan Department at (956) 882-7130 or send an email to: ill@utb.edu and request that your ILLiad password be reset. Please provide your ILLiad username or UTB/TSC ID number.