How do I request an article, book, or book chapter?
Request an Article
Usually, you can tell if the library has access to an article if you see options to “Download PDF,” “Read Article,” or “View Issue Contents" within AOK OneSearch or another database. It can also be listed as “Available Online." These options are under the title and author(s) of the article that come up in the database results.
If we do not have access it should indicate “No Online Access” under the article title and author(s). If this is the case, you will need to request a scanned PDF version of the article. This can be done through interlibrary loan (ILL). If you haven’t done so already, you will first be prompted to register your account. Interlibrary loan is available at no cost to current UMBC faculty, staff, and students.
Once you’ve registered your ILL account, you can now submit ILL requests for books, chapters, and articles. Make sure you are logged in by clicking on the “sign in” option on the library’s search page. Click on the article you would like, then click “ILLiad article request” under the “How to Get It” heading.
You should receive an email notification once a pdf version of your article is available in your ILL account.
Request a Book Available Through the University System of Maryland (USMAI)
If the book you are searching for is not available at our library, check to see if another partner institution in Maryland might have it. When you locate the book in AOK OneSearch, scroll down to “USMAI Holdings” under the “Get It" heading. If the title is available at another Maryland university, you should see a list of other locations where it is available for check-out.
The status should read, “Held by Institution” in green if it is available to be requested and placed on hold. Once you click on the “Request from USMAI” option under the “Get It” heading, you will be prompted to choose a pick-up location. You will receive an email notification when the book has arrived and is ready for you to check out. Books available to request through USMAI usually take 3 to 5 business days to arrive.
Request a Book that is not Available at UMBC or the University System of Maryland (USMAI)
If the book is not available at UMBC or to request from USMAI, you can request it through interlibrary loan (ILL) . If you haven’t done so already, you will first be prompted to register your account. Interlibrary loan is available at no cost to current UMBC faculty, staff, and students.
Once you’ve opened your ILL account, you can now submit ILL requests. Make sure you are logged in by clicking on the “sign in” option on the library’s search page. Click on the title of the book you would like, then click “ILLiad book request” under the “How to Get It” heading.
Books take an average of 1-2 weeks to arrive through interlibrary loan. You will be notified by email when your book arrives, and you can pick it up at the Circulation Desk.
Request a Book Chapter
You can also request individual book chapters through interlibrary loan.
Usually, you can tell if the library has access to a book chapter if you see options to “Download PDF,” “Read Article,” or “View Issue Contents.” It can also be marked, “Available Online.” These options are under the title and author(s) of the book chapter that come up in the results.
If we do not have access, it should say, “No Online Access” under the book chapter title and author(s). You will need to request a scanned PDF version of the chapter instead. This can be done through interlibrary loan (ILL).
Once you’ve opened your ILL account, you can now submit ILL requests for books, articles, and book chapters. Make sure you are logged in by clicking on the “sign in” option on the library’s search page. Click on the article you would like, then click on the link that reads, “ILLiad book request” under the “How to Get It” heading.
You will receive an email notification once a pdf version of your book chapter is available in your ILL account.