Library

Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary loan (ILL) is a service provided to current Union University faculty, staff, and students to obtain materials specifically related to Union coursework that are not available at Union University. The two ILL systems that are used by Union are OCLC WorldShare and DOCLINE. OCLC WorldShare is a nationwide ILL system used by libraries of all types. DOCLINE is a nationwide system used primarily by health sciences libraries.

ILLs may be requested within the following guidelines:

1. Union University Library will not lend or request an interlibrary loan for certain types of materials. These include:
   • Ebooks
   • Required texts
   • Rare or valuable materials
   • Reference materials
   • Media
2. Articles take approximately one week to arrive, and books take approximately two weeks, though the times may vary based on the lending library's attentiveness and other variables.
3. The checkout and renewal periods for books borrowed are determined by lending libraries. An average total checkout period is around 10 weeks.
4. Interlibrary loans are subject to any special regulations imposed by the lending library.
5. Electronic copies of articles requested as interlibrary loans must comply with the Copyright Law and Guidelines.
6. The library will cover any charges for electronic copies of articles, any charges for books, and postage costs associated with the shipping of books. Patrons will be responsible for the replacement cost of lost, damaged, or ILL materials not returned.

Patrons not currently affiliated with Union University are not eligible to make interlibrary loan requests and will be directed to their institution or to the Public Library.

Notice Warning Concerning Copyright Restrictions

The copyright laws of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) govern 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 specific 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 copyright law.