Interlibrary Loan (also known as ILL) is a service that allows us to borrow physical items and PDFs of articles/chapters from other libraries for you. It's free and we encourage you to use it! ILLiad is the webpage where you can put in your Interlibrary Loan requests, see the status, and retrieve your PDFs. Your login is your PUNet ID (without the @pacificu.edu part) and password.
Please note: This service is available to current Pacific University students, staff, faculty, and emeritus faculty. Alumni and community borrowers are not eligible for this service and should inquire about interlibrary loan options are their local public library.
It's always free! Your tuition helps to pay for it, so please don't hesitate to put in your requests.
When you have located an item in our library catalog that you want to request, look for the "Request it through Interlibrary Loan (ILL)" link. When you click on one of these links and log in to your ILLiad account, ILLiad will populate a request form for you. Just click on the "Submit Request" button. Can't find what you need? You can always place a manual request by logging in to ILLiad and clicking the "New Requests" link near the top of the page.
For detailed information on how to place an Interlibrary Loan request, please visit our ILL Guide.
Most physical items will arrive in about 7-10 days. Most articles/book chapters will arrive in 2-3 days as a PDF. This timeframe depends on its availability at other libraries, so some requests may take longer. We keep an eye on requests for you, but you are always welcome to reach out with questions or use the "Notes" field when submitting a request to make us aware of any special timeline needs (or anything else you'd like us to know).
Our goal is to get your physical items from libraries that are as close to us as possible. If your item is available from our network of local academic libraries called Summit, we will transfer your request to a Summit request so that your item arrives faster. Nothing additional is required from you when we do this. When your item isn't available through local libraries, we have a larger network of libraries to request from that includes international libraries.
Interlibrary Loan also works closely with Pacific University Libraries' Collection Services department to purchase requested items for Pacific's libraries, depending on several factors, including requests for ebooks.
Due dates are set by the library that lent us the item and can vary a lot. You can ask for a renewal by emailing us at ill@pacificu.edu, by coming to the front desk, or by going into your ILLiad account. (Note: The last option does not work too far or too close to the due date.) We will ask the other library for a longer due date and will let you know the response either way. If it can't be renewed, you are welcome to request another copy. Pacific University Libraries does not charge overdue fees.
Unlimited! Keep in mind that each request is processed by Interlibrary Loan staff duing typical business hours Monday - Friday. You can always check to see if your item is available locally or via Summit since those options are usually faster.
Yes! Books, DVDs, CDs can all be requested, even if it's just for fun. If you want to request DVDs or CDs but don't have a player, the Libraries check out disc players at the front desk.
You will receive an email when your item arrives at the library. How you get your item depends on where you are located.
FOREST GROVE CAMPUS: Your item will be available at the circulation desk in the Tran Library.
HILLSBORO CAMPUS: Your item will be sent via intercampus courier to the Hillsboro Campus Library for pickup. Items generally arrive in Hillsboro on a Tuesday or Thursday. You can expect an additional email from library staff when your item arrives, but you can also reach out to the Hillsboro Campus Library at 503-352-7331.
DISTANCE LEARNERS (Anyone who can't pick up in Forest Grove or Hillsboro): We will mail your items to you free of charge and with a free return label. Expect an additional email from the Interlibrary Loan staff about your options. If you are regularly a Forest Grove or Hillsboro student, faculty, or staff member but are currently learning or teaching remotely, please put a note in your request to have your items mailed and provide your current address.
Article requests will be filled as PDFs and can be downloaded from your ILLiad account. Your location doesn't impact this.
This means your request is going through the Interlibrary Loan process and you don't need to worry. We can get almost anything that you request and if there's anything we have questions about or can't get for you, we will contact you by email.
If your item is "cancelled" and you don't have an email from us, that usually means we are getting your request from an alternative source, which will not impact how you receive the item. If your item is "unfilled," we are looking for other libraries to fill your request.
You can update your information in ILLiad at any time! Your account won't automatically update when the University receives a name change, so we encourage you to update your information as often as you need. Please use the last name the University has on record, but your first name can be the name you go by. We do not need your first name to reflect what the University has if you have not gone through a legal name change process. You can update your information by clicking "My ILLiad Account" and then "Update Registration Information."
Questions about how to change your name at Pacific? Visit this helpful guide.
We process an average of 10.25 articles about brine shrimp every year!
Fun fact: our largest live brine shrimp in the ILL office is named Brian. Our largest inanimate brine shrimp is named Sir Shrimpington.
You can reach the Interlibrary Loan department by email at ill@pacificu.edu for any Interlibrary Loan questions. Email is checked during regular business hours Monday - Friday. Please feel free to come in to either Tran or Hillsboro Campus Library anytime we're open and our friendly staff can assist with many ILL questions as well!