Request an Interlibrary Loan

Through Interlibrary Loan (ILL), we can order almost any book or periodical article that the CSM Library does not own.

  • ILL is a free service that is available to CSM students, staff, and faculty as well as to community members.
  • Please allow 2-4 weeks for processing and delivery of all requests.
  • Customers may order materials through Interlibrary Loan via the online forms below, or by filling out request forms at any CSM campus library.
  • We will notify you when the materials have arrived, OR if the materials are unavailable.

Frequently Asked Questions

ILL is a library service allowing you to request books and journal articles not owned by the College of Southern Maryland by filling out a form. The Library will then locate and retrieve the items for you. Restrictions are outlined below.

ILL materials are free to students, staff, faculty, and members of the College of Southern Maryland community.

Books and articles that are not located at any College of Southern Maryland campus can be requested through Interlibrary Loan. Most textbooks, reference books, movies, and archival materials cannot be requested from other libraries. Please check with the ILL Assistant if you have any questions regarding material availability.

Interlibrary Loan materials are usually due one month after they are received. The lending library sets the due date. Some materials will have differing loan periods depending upon the type of material and/or the lending library's policy. The ILL Assistant will contact you as soon as the requested materials have arrived. CSM Library will include a due date bookmark along with the materials. Articles are usually sent as photocopies which do not need to be returned. ERIC documents are typically on microfiche and need to be used in the La Plata campus library. Interlibrary loan items cannot be renewed.

Processing typically takes from two to four weeks. If a book can be located at a local library or is part of the Maryland lending system (MARINA), it will take less time. Libraries outside of MARINA take longer to process and to ship.

When the materials arrive, you will be notified by email or by telephone. Materials are held at the Circulation Desk of the campus library specified for delivery.

Contact the ILL Assistant immediately. Customers may be required to pay for lost or damaged items. There may also be a fine and a processing fee. Prices will vary depending upon the cost of the material. Students will be placed on restriction until the fee is paid. While on restriction, students are not able to check out library material, receive their grades, or register for classes.

Requests are not guaranteed to be filled. Requests may be denied for several reasons--the item may not be available, it could be part of an archive, or it may be against the lending library's policy to loan the type of item requested. The ILL Assistant will notify you if a request is unfillable.

Search these Websites to find books that meet your needs.  Do not request items from these sites, but do submit your requests to CSM Library as outlined above.

Articles can be researched using CSM Library databases at any campus library.  Students who are currently enrolled in credit courses can search many of the databases from off-campus.

Choose an Option

Please check OPAC (CSM's online card catalog) to ensure that CSM does not have this book. This form is to request books not available at CSM. If the book you need is available at CSM, contact the circulation staff of any campus library to request the book.

Please submit a separate form for each book that you are requesting. Fill out the form as completely as you can, all items marked with a * must be filled. Include as much information as you know about the items you want to order. There is a comments section for any additional information that would help the ILL assistant fill your order and get the materials to you in a timely manner.

Please check the CSM online periodical databases to ensure that CSM does not have this article. This form is to request articles not available at CSM. For articles available at CSM, call or visit any campus library for help in obtaining the article. With each request sent, the user is agreeing to comply with the copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code). Please read the entire copyright statement:

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, US Code) governs 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 of the 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.  This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copyright order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would invoke violation of copyright law.

Please submit a separate form for each article that you are requesting. Fill out the form as completely as you can, all items marked with a * must be filled. Include as much information as you know about the items you want to order. There is a comments section for any additional information that would help the ILL assistant fill your order and get the materials to you in a timely manner.

For additional information, comments or questions about this service, please contact the ILL Assistant at 301-934-2251, ext. 7107, or email ILL@csmd.edu.
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