ILLiad is the resource sharing management software we use to manage all borrowing, document delivery (scan and deliver), and lending requests.
ILLiad is integrated with other platforms we use to fulfill our users resource sharing needs.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a free service (the UofM Libraries absorb all associated costs) that allows you to request materials we do not have in the UofM library collection.

To login or create a new user account in ILLiad enter your UofM credentials. 

New users will be taken to a brief registration form. You will need an ILLiad account to use the service.  

We recommend that you begin your search for materials you need by browsing our catalog. 

Our catalog and databases contain direct links to e-resources as well as links to request all unavailable in our collection materials through interlibrary loan directly from the library catalog. 

When authenticated, A “Request Item through Interlibrary Loan” link is available in our catalog and in WorldCat.

WorldCat allows you to search for and request the holdings of libraries worldwide. When starting with our catalog or WorldCat records ILLiad request form auto-populates.

Alternatively, ILLiad allows you to manually fill out a request form. 

Once your request is submitted, the automated system’s routing rules in place and our staff discover the most cost and time efficient ways to receive your research materials. The estimated time for fulfillment varies between a few minutes to four weeks. Items requested from our TennShare and ASERL partners have shorter turnaround time.

The ILL service provides access to the UofM library holdings to institutions nationally and internationally according to the standards set via the Interlibrary Loan Code for the United States and the IFLA International Resource Sharing and Document Delivery: Principles and Guidelines for Procedure. 

Interlibrary Loan is permitted under Section 108 of the Copyright Act. A notice of warning concerning copyright restrictions is attached to all electronically delivered materials to warn users that the content may be protected by copyright. 

Libraries and their employees are not liable for users making copies in excess of “fair use”.  

Request and pick up items available in our collection.

To place a hold on a material that is checked out, use your My Library Account.

To access quickly and easily materials that the library owns but are accessible only in print, we scan and deliver pdfs or a read-only link via Digital Rights Management tools of articles and book chapters.

To request a pick-up of a circulating physical item (book, DVD, etc.) that you have found and identified as available in the University Libraries’ catalog use the Request Item Pick up Form . The requested item will be placed on the hold shelf at the branch you have identified as your most convenient pick up location.

Faculty and staff can request a departmental delivery and their requested items will be delivered to the department’s administrative office indicated in the form.

All UofM faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students are eligible for this service.

If you do not qualify for the University of Memphis ILL Services, reach to your public library and request a similar service. Memphis Public Library cardholders seek help here.

For other libraries wishing to submit an interlibrary loan request to the University of Memphis University Libraries, our OCLC symbol is TMA. We accept lending requests through OCLC, RapidILL, Occam’s Reader, mail, or email.

The University Libraries absorb most fees and charges associated with securing material from other libraries on behalf of our users. 

We are no longer charging overdue fees for Interlibrary Loan materials.

Returning your loans timely ensures that we have good relationships with our resource sharing partners. ILL privileges will be revoked while loans are overdue:

• After 30 Days Overdue, users ILL (ILLiad) account is blocked from access and materials are marked as lost.
• After 90 Days Overdue, the Bursar Office is notified and a minimum charge of $125 is assigned to your UofM account.

Blocks and fines will be removed if the materials are returned prior to posting to your UofM account or receiving an invoice from a lender.

Interlibrary loan library users are still responsible for any costs associated with damage or loss. Charges for loss or damage are determined by the lending library and may include replacement charges, processing, and/or repair fee.

Damaged/loss fees and replacement charges are posted to your My Library Account and to the University account where payments can be made electronically.

We sent multiple courtesy automatic overdue notices as a reminder. These notices are sent only to your University of Memphis email accounts. 

The due date is posted on the strap accompanying all borrowed via ILL materials.  

To view your ILL requests, monitor due dates, and timely request an extension (renewal) from lenders, use your ILLiad account or contact the ILL office for help.

Delivery time for ILL items may vary.

• Articles: most materials are delivered electronically to your ILLiad account in 24-72 hours. They are available for download for 30 days.
• Loans: Materials typically arrive in 1-2 weeks. Items borrowed from consortia and state partners are delivered faster. Materials borrowed from international lenders could take 6-8 weeks. Materials are sent to the pickup location selected in your ILLiad profile. Please be sure to keep you pick up location current in your ILLiad account. UofM faculty and staff can received their items directly to their department's office admin.

Books, Book Chapters, Conference Proceedings, E-Books, Journal Articles, Microforms, Patents, Theses/Dissertations, Audiovisual Materials – DVD, CD, VHS.

Current textbooks, Course Reserve Materials, New and/or unbound journals, reference and special collection materials (some exceptions allow Special Collections materials from other universities to be delivered and used only in McWherter’s Special Collections Reading Room).

We do not recommend requesting current textbooks via ILL because it is hard to find a library which owns and will lend them.

We know that the cost of college textbooks is high and we often receive ILL requests for textbooks. Purchasing textbooks is part of usual college expenses.
Many institutions are working with faculty to promote and adopt OER resources in their classrooms and help students save on college expenses.
Some textbooks, course packs are only used at the University of Memphis and we cannot find a lender.
Very few libraries purchase textbooks and even fewer have the most current editions.
From those who purchase textbooks, the textbooks are often reserved for their campus use only and therefore not loaned to other institutions.
Even if we are able to find a lender, it takes time for an item to arrive and there is a possibility that students will be behind required course work.
Loan due dates via ILL are set by the lending library and often textbooks have shorter checkout periods and no renewals are granted.
Items requested via ILL are subject to immediate recall if their patron put a hold so you may possibly have a textbook for a week or so.
Failure to return items when due or recalled, can lead to late and lost charges to your account and suspended ILL privileges not only for you. The lending library can chose to suspend any ILL requests from our institution.
In some instances, your faculty have placed require course readings or textbooks on Course Reserves so make sure you explore this library service here.

Your materials will be available for pick up at the McWherter Library Check-Out Desk. In order to pick them up, you must bring your University of Memphis ID.

If an item is restricted to “Library Use Only”, you must make an appointment with the Special Collections Department to use it.

If you are picking up an item for another person, in addition to your University of Memphis ID you have to complete a Proxy Borrower Application and must be approved as a "proxy borrower."

If you do not have an ID card, or would like more information about ID cards, please visit the Identification Card Information page in the Business and Finance section of the UofM Web site.

Articles are accessible in your account for 30 days before they are automatically deleted. Please assure that you have saved it prior to the 30 days period. ILLiad has a duplicate detection routing rule to prevent the accidental sending and fulfillment of duplicate requests. Duplicate requests are subject to cancelation.

Loans are kept until the due date. Due dates are set by the lending library and vary. All due dates are displayed on the strap accompanying the materials and also can be found in your ILLiad account. Unclaimed materials are immediately returned to the lender. If you need extra time to pick up, make arrangements and contact us.

We prefer that ILL loans are returned at the Check-Out Desk on the first floor of McWherter Library or any of our branches. Please return all ILL materials with the original ILL paperwork.

If a campus drop box or mailing the item back to us via a courier is the only option for you, please wrap all items securely and please send us a courtesy email that the item was dropped off or sent to us (include tracking number). You will be responsible for any damage or loss incurring upon returning.

Our shipping address is:

University of Memphis, University Libraries, ILL Office
126 Ned R. McWherter Library / 3785 Norriswood Ave 
Memphis, TN 38152-3250 US