Gonzaga University

FAQ - Distance Library Services

Who is eligible for Distance Library Services?

Distance library services are offered to students who meet the following criteria:

1. take most of their classes online or off-campus
2. live more than 35 miles from campus
3. do not come to campus on a regular basis to be distant students. 

NEW FOR FALL 2008: Due to the increasing cost of mailing books, we're asking students who live just outside the 35 mile radius (some areas of Coeur d'Alene and Hayden, Idaho for example) to consider coming to campus to pick up and return books. We reserve the right to "batch" books for mailing if it seems appropriate. 

Please contact the Distance Services Librarian if you have any questions about your eligibility.

What services are available? The same services offered to our on-campus students, plus document delivery services and mailing books to your home.

• Online access to the Foley Library Catalog of books and other materials. Books available in the Foley Library collection may be requested online using the Place Hold feature in the catalog. They will be checked out and mailed to you on the next business day.
• Online access to article Indexes and Databases including: Academic Search Premier, ERIC, JSTOR, ProQuest, PsycInfo, SocAbs, Medline and CINAHL.
• Online access to full-text articles in the thousands of online journals to which Foley Library subscribes, accessible through the databases or through Periodicals at Foley. 
• Articles not available online through one of the databases may be requested through ILLiad.
• Interlibrary Loan service ILLiad. If we don't have it here we may be able to get it from another library. Books will be mailed to you, articles will be sent to you electronically.
• Online reference assistance.  Click on the Contact Us link on the library homepage.
• Online tutorials on using the library and searching article databases.
• Toll-free assistance at 800-498-5941. The reference staff will be happy to assist you with any questions during the library's open business hours.
• If you have computer hardware and software questions contact the Help Desk at 800-498-5941 x5550 or helpdesk@gonzaga.edu
  

What services are NOT available?

• Articles generally cannot be faxed to students due to the high volume of requests.
• Library staff will not choose articles from a search for a student.
• Instantaneous delivery of requested articles is not supported. See the "How long will it take. . ." section below.

Are these services free?

• Most listed services are free.
• Distance learners are responsible for postage to return books.
• All students are subject to overdue fines and replacement costs for any lost items.
• Articles are delivered to distant students free of charge, if you request print-outs of Foley Library material, a fee of ten cents per page will be applied to your library record.
• Interlibrary loans are usually free. However, some libraries charge us to use their materials. When that happens, Foley Library will pay up to $15 per item in lending charges.  If a lending library charges more than that, we will give you the option of paying the difference or canceling the request.
• The library adheres to the U.S. Copyright Law and the accompanying fair use guidelines. Copyright fees for articles obtained through interlibrary loan can be expensive. Foley Library will pay up to $40 in copyright fees per article, but if the fees are more than that, we will give you the option of paying the difference or canceling the request. 

How do I request a book or an article?

• Request books from the Foley Library collection by using the"Place Hold" feature in the online Catalog. Add a note to the comments field to include your mailing address.
• Login to your ILLiad account to request articles that are not available online or to request books that are NOT owned by Foley Library.
• Always check Periodicals at Foley before submitting any article request. The journal you need may be available online.

What is ILLiad?

ILLiad is the system you will use to request and track items requested through Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Distance students may also use ILLiad to request copies of articles from the Foley Library print collection. For more information go to ILLiad FAQ

Do I need my Gonzaga ID card to use this service?

Your Gonzaga ID number - the 8-digit number on the front of your GU ID card - is required to request books from our library and to access your Foley Library. You will also be asked for it when you register for your ILLiad account.

How long will it take to receive requested items?

• We can usually locate, scan and post articles from Foley Center print journals within 2 business days.
• Articles requested through Interlibrary Loan (ILL) will be supplied by other libraries and may take up to a week to be delivered to your ILLiad account.
• Books and other materials requested through ILL usually arrive at Foley Library within 7-10 days. Once we receive the material, we mail it to you unless you specify a different pickup or delivery option.  For example, some students prefer to pick up their books when they come to campus. 
• Attention Canadian students! Mail delivery to Canada is slow! Allow at least 4 weeks for mail from Spokane to arrive.
• ILLiad requests are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. At peak times of the semester processing may be slowed by a higher than normal request level. At those times, we can only guarantee processing five requests per person per day. 
• Order only what you need and PLEASE LIMIT YOUR REQUESTS TO 15 PER WEEK! If there's a reason you need to submit more than that, contact the Interlibrary Loan Office ill@gonzaga.edu.
  

How will I receive items requested?

• Articles will be delivered electronically through your ILLiad account. You will receive an e-mail notification whenever a new article is posted to your account.
• Books will be mailed to the address specified on your ILLiad account, so please keep your address up to date! You will receive an e-mail when the book is put in the mail. 
• Some Canadian students make arrangements for books to be delivered by their Gonzaga-based professors. This option may be available to you depending on your location and your professor. You make the arrangements and then let us know when and with whom to send any books that have come in for you. Use the "Notes" field on the request form to supply that information or email us at ill@gonzaga.edu
• If you will be visiting Spokane, we can hold materials for your arrival. Just let us know when you will be on campus by adding a note on your request form or by sending an e-mail to ill@gonzaga.edu

How long may I keep articles and books that are sent to me?

• Printed articles (rare these days!) are yours to keep.
• Articles posted to your ILLiad account are removed from the ILLiad system after 30 days.
• Books from Gonzaga's library usually check out to graduate students for 8 weeks.  If you need it longer, you can renew books online.
• To renew a GU book, click on the My Account option in the Library Catalog. As long as no one else needs it, a book from Foley Library may be renewed up to 8 times!
• Books obtained through Interlibrary Loan (ILL)are subject to the policies of the lending library, but generally are on loan to us for 2-4 weeks.  You may request one renewal for an "ILL" book, but any extension of the due date is also at the discretion of the library that owns the item.
• Request renewals of ILL books by logging into your ILLiad account or by e-mailing the ILL Office ill@gonzaga.edu 

Who can I contact for assistance?

Theresa Kappus, Distance Library Services Librarian

Toll-free: 1-800-498-5941 x3820
E-mail: kappus@gonzaga.edu

Anji Mertens, Interlibrary Loan Specialist

Toll-free: 1-800-498-5941 x6534
E-mail: ill@gonzaga.edu