FAQs
ILLiad
ILLiad
What is ILLiad?
ILLiad is the electronic system you use to request an item through Interlibrary Loan. The name ILLiad can be thought of as an acronym for I nter l ibrary L oan i nternet a ccessible d atabase.
How is ILLiad better than traditional ILL systems?
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- You will find it easier to submit your interlibrary loan requests. With ILLiad, you enter your name, address, and other personal information into the system only once, at the time of your first request. The registration form will appear for first time users to complete when you initially log into the system with your SIUE e-ID.
- Your request will be handled more rapidly and accurately as problems relating to misinterpretation of hand-written requests are eliminated.
- You can get many of your photocopies more quickly through electronic delivery.
- You can get information about the status of your request through the Web at any time from any location without having to call the ILL Department.
- Library personnel are able to serve you better because all data about your request and its handling is stored in a searchable database. We are able to respond quickly to your inquiries about your request. We are also able to gather statistical information about the performance of the libraries that lend to us, enabling us to make better decisions when choosing a lender to supply an item.
lender to supply an item. Are there any disadvantages to the electronic system?
Some people might find it troublesome to have to log into ILLiad using a username and password. We believe this is less trouble than traditional paper and electronic systems which require you to enter your personal information with each new request.
Why do I need a username and password to use ILLiad?
Your username and password allows us to give you secure access to information about your interlibrary loan requests. We can also enable you to edit your personal information such as your address or phone number. No one but you will know your password, not even the library staff.
What if I forget my password?
In the event that you forget your password, please contact help@siue.edu.
What Web browser should I use?
You need a Web browser that can handle forms, tables, and, preferably, one that can handle frames. We recommend either Netscape Navigator version 3.0 or greater or Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3.0 or greater. Both browsers are available for Windows and Macintosh operating systems. Netscape Navigator is available for UNIX.
Is security a problem if I use a public workstation?
Yes. Web browsers cache information and create a history file on the local workstation. This allows a subsequent user of the workstation to access the system under your name using the browser's Back button to recall a page from the cache, or by finding a page with your personal information in the browser's history file. If you are concerned about the security of your interlibrary loan requests, you can take the following steps:
- Access ILLiad only from your personal computer or an otherwise secure workstation.
- Access ILLiad from a public workstation in the library.
- When using a public access workstation: 1) delete from the history file those pages that contain personal information, and 2) exit from the Web browser before you leave the workstation, to prevent the Back button from accessing the pages you were using
Why don't I see all my older requests when I look at my request history?
From time to time we purge older records from ILLiad. Our policy is to keep requests online for several years to comply with record keeping requirements of the copyright law.
What is electronic delivery?
Many libraries ship photocopies of articles to us in electronic format. In the past we printed these articles before delivering them to you. Now, through ILLiad, we are able to offer you the option of electronic delivery of these articles in PDF format (Adobe's Portable Document Format).
How do I sign up for electronic delivery?
Logon to ILLiad. From the main menu, click the button labeled "Change Personal Info." For the choice "Preferred Electronic Delivery if Possible (via Web through ILLiad)," choose "Yes" to have your electronic articles posted to your ILLiad account.
How do I know if my computer can receive electronic articles?
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed and configured to work with your Web browser in order to view, download, and print these articles. If you can read the sample page, then your computer has the necessary software installed to work with your Web browser. However, if your computer tells you the file type is unknown and asks if you want to save the file to disk, then you need to install the Adobe Acrobat Reader software.
How do I get my articles when they arrive?
Logon to ILLiad. On the main menu, choose "Electronic Delivery." This will give you a list of all items that you have waiting to view or download.
How do I know which requests will be electronically delivered and which ones will not?
ILLiad sends you an e-mail notification for each item received. That e-mail will include information about the delivery method.
What if I do not want electronic delivery?
Paper delivery is the default. Electronic delivery will be provided only if you choose it as an option on your "Personal Information Form" in ILLiad.
