Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan Services and Policies

Use this service to request materials that are not owned by Ramapo College’s Potter Library. You can also request copies of items from our collection, or request that physical items be placed on hold for you at the circulation desk.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT HOW COVID-19 IS AFFECTING ILL, PLEASE VIEW THIS GUIDE.

To log in to your Interlibrary Loan account, click on the button above, and use your RCNJ username and password. For example, if your Ramapo email is jsmith1@ramapo.edu, your username would be jsmith1.

ILL staff can be reached at 201.684.7579 or ill@ramapo.edu.

Interlibrary Loan service is a privilege, not a right. ILL staff has the right to refuse ILL service to any Potter Library patron who, in their judgment, has failed to adhere to these guidelines.

Who may use this service?
  • Current Ramapo students
  • Current Ramapo full-time and adjunct faculty
  • Current Ramapo staff

Patrons must have a valid identification card and have no blocks on his/her borrowing privileges.

What may be requested?
  • Books
  • Journal articles
  • Audiovisual materials
  • Any material that George T. Potter Library does not own, as well as materials that are checked out to another patron, or declared missing after a search has been performed
  • Scanned copies of materials owned by Potter Library.

We will request these materials for you; however, the policies of lending libraries differ and we cannot guarantee that they will let us borrow requested items.

What is not eligible for requesting?

The following types of materials are usually NOT LENT by libraries:

  • e-texts
  • Reference materials
  • Textbooks
  • Materials that are currently in high demand
  • Materials that are on reserve at the lending library
  • Books published within the past year
  • Rare or valuable materials
  • Theses or dissertations

You can still request these items, but please be aware that your request might not be filled. You may have a better chance of receiving the needed information if you request copies of reasonable amounts of reference materials, textbooks and other printed materials. To request a copy, use the book request form and specify the chapter and/or page numbers in the appropriate box, then choose “Copy” as the “Service Type.”

How do I request materials?

Before submitting a request, please check the online catalog to make sure the book is not already available at Potter Library or check Journal Finder to ensure that the article is not electronically available through our online databases. This may help you to get materials faster. After checking, click the “Place a Request / View Requests” button above to fill out request forms for articles, books, and other materials. After logging in, click the “Create Request” button, then choose the appropriate form.

Is there a limit for the number of requests I can place at once?

There is no limit to the number of requests you can submit at one time. However, if one patron submits a very large number of requests at once, ILL reserves the right to process other requests proportionately in order to meet the needs of all patrons.

How long will it take for my requested material to arrive?

On average it takes 7-10 days to receive a requested item. Journal articles often come much faster if sent electronically. However, it sometimes takes three weeks or more (over six weeks in extreme cases) for items to arrive.

Will I be notified when my request arrives?

Patrons will be notified by email when the item arrives. Articles are often included as email attachments, or can be accessed through an emailed link. If you have issues opening an article, please call or email the ILL staff at (201) 684-7579 or ill@ramapo.edu. Books and other multimedia items may be picked up from the Circulation Desk during scheduled hours.

Loaned items will be held for 14 days, after which they will be returned to the lending library if not picked up.

How do I find out the status of my request?

Click the “Place a Request / View Requests” button above to view the status of all of your ILL requests. You may also contact the ILL staff at 201-684-7579 or by emailing ill@ramapo.edu.

What are my responsibilities as borrower?
  • Late or damaged items may be subject to fees as determined by the lending library.
  • We ask for your cooperation in returning the borrowed materials promptly so as not to jeopardize our good relations with the lending library.
How long may I keep the borrowed material?
  • The loan period is determined by the lending library. It is typically two-three weeks. The due date will be indicated on the band or sticker attached to the ILL item, and it will be listed on your online account.
Can I renew the borrowed material?
  • If you would like an extension, please log into your account and click the button to “Renew” an item at least two days before the item is due. The lending library decides if the renewal is granted. Many institutions grant one renewal, but renewal requests are sometimes denied.
Can I borrow materials in person from another library?
  • The Potter Library participates in the Virtual Academic Library Environment (VALE) Reciprocal Borrowing Program. This allows Ramapo students, faculty and staff to borrow books in person from other academic libraries including Rutgers Universities (all campuses), Montclair State, Monmouth, Seton Hall, NJIT and William Paterson. Please visit our Borrowing in Person from Other Colleges & Universities page to learn more.
Notice concerning copyright restrictions

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials.

“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.”

The George. T. Potter Library reserves the right to refuse to accept a copy request if fulfillment would involve violating copyright law.