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Request a Document (Staff)

Yes, it's another exciting "how-to" guide! (Assuming you've read some of our others...)

Document requests, also called document delivery, are when you receive a request from someone requesting a specific article, book, etc. This SOP focuses more on working through the process of fulfilling a document request and less on finding documents. So, while this will touch on finding documents, it assumes you already know how to do this. If you don't, ask someone. Most of the team knows how to do this.

Document requests include requests for:

  • Specific articles, dissertations, reports, or other content identified by name.
  • Books or book chapters.
  • Textbooks.

Restrictions and Conditions

Let's get some of the not-so-fun stuff out of the way.

All Users

  • Each document request should be its own ticket. If users submit a single request for multiple document requests, new tickets should be opened for each document requested.
  • Delivery time is 1-10 business days, with 95% of requests delivered within hours.
  • The library does not mail physical copies of articles. Document delivery requests are fulfilled as digital copies.
  • There is no cost to users who use this service.
  • The library reserves the right to cancel any request over $50. Please see Requests Canceled Due to Cost for more information.
  • Due to copyright restrictions, the library cannot deliver entire e-books, and no more than two chapters or 10% from a single work (whichever is less) can be delivered.
  • Due to copyright restrictions, no more than two articles from a single issue of a periodical or journal can be delivered.
  • The ability to fill a document delivery request may be limited by the availability of the requested document in the library's partner libraries.
  • If the requester provides an incomplete citation, the library staff will make every attempt to locate the document; however, if it isn't possible, the Librarian will request more information from the User before canceling the request.
  • If more than 3 document delivery requests are made at one time by a single User, the requests should be referred to the library supervisor for approval, as it is not library policy to provide articles for a more extensive bibliographic search.

Alums

The policies for all users are also applicable to alums with these exceptions:

  • Alums are restricted to one (1) document purchase (article, book chapter, etc.) per month.
  • Alums cannot loan books through the document delivery service.

Book Loans

  • Book loans are limited to current students, faculty, and staff. Alums cannot loan books.
  • Students, faculty, and staff may not loan more than one (1) book at a time.
  • Book loans are available to current students, faculty, and staff.
  • Book loans generally take up to two weeks to fulfill, though some may take longer. Specific timelines cannot be guaranteed.
  • Students, faculty, and staff can only loan one book at a time, except for doctoral students, who can loan three books at a time. New requests will be accepted once the previous book has been returned.
  • Students, faculty, and staff must provide their physical address for the book to be shipped (no PO boxes), their phone number for delivery, and their advisor’s name.