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Information Delivery Services (IDS):

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions and Answers


Who is eligible for Information Delivery Services (IDS)?

Faculty, staff, and currently enrolled graduate and undergraduate students.

You may contact the Information Delivery Services Department at 585-245-5589 if you have any questions or concerns. The office is open Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m., Sundays 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. or you may email the Information Delivery Services Staff at ill@geneseo.edu.

Those from outside the SUNY Geneseo community should use the interlibrary loan services of their home library. A home library could be an academic, public, or corporate library.


Is there a charge for IDS?

We try to keep all transactions free through reciprocal arrangements. Occasionally, there may be a charge for books or photocopies of journal articles, depending on the lending library. You will be informed of possible charges before your order is placed, unless you indicate on your request a maximum amount that you are willing to pay.


Is there a maximum number of requests I can submit?

At this time, there is no maximum number of requests you can submit. However, we would appreciate it if, whenever possible, you could limit the number of active requests at one time to 15.


What can I get through IDS?

Our Information Delivery Services Department works very hard to fill every request it receives. However, some requests are easier to fill than others. If you are requesting a hard-to-get item, keep in mind that it might take a little longer than usual. Please discuss any special needs or potentially difficult requests with the Information Delivery Services Manager, Harriet Sleggs or telephone the Department (585-245-5589).

Items in the following categories are usually easy to borrow:

  • Books
  • Newspapers and periodicals on microfilm or microfiche
  • Magazine, journal, or newspaper articles
  • Government documents

A request for something from these categories can usually be filled within 2 -5 days. Loan periods are generally four weeks.

Items in the following categories may be difficult to borrow:

  • Reference books
  • Rare books and manuscripts
  • Very recently-published books
  • Entire volumes of journals
  • Multi-volume sets
  • Audio-visual materials
  • Professional association papers
  • Some dissertations and master's theses (availability is unpredictable)

A request for something from these categories might take longer to fill or be filled with restrictions, such as a shorter loan period or in-library use only.

(NOTE: Faculty and Staff may also submit requests for photocopies of articles in journals, by using the Article Photocopying Service. This service also includes book chapters, government documents, and microforms.)

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How long will it take and what can I do to get the best possible results from my loan request?

Please allow 2 - 5 days for delivery of requested materials. Some types of materials may take longer to obtain. If you are working against a deadline that necessitates faster, more immediate delivery, you may indicate "rush" in the notes field. The Information Delivery Services Department tries to fill all requests but here are some things you can do to get your material faster.

The following tips will facilitate the delivery of your item. Remember that not all of this information is necessary, but all of it is helpful.

  • Be certain that we don't own the item you are requesting. Many requests we receive are for items that Milne Library already owns. These requests waste the time of the user (you!!), because you could have that material immediately! Reference librarians can help you verify that we do not own an item, or locate it if we do.

    You can search our online catalog, GLOCAT to check for the availability of online full text articles.

  • Provide accurate and complete information about:
    • Yourself - Please keep your personal information in ILLiad up to date.
    • Your request - Name of the database or URL (internet address) where you found the citation.
    • The ISSN number if you are requesting articles, or ISBN number if you are requesting books.


Keep in mind that if we cannot verify the information you give us, your request will be delayed while we attempt to contact you. Please DO NOT abbreviate the journal title unless it is abbreviated in your source citation.

  • Plan ahead. October/November and March/April are very busy times, and the sooner you get your request in, the more likely it is that we can fill it for you on time.

  • If you need an article, make sure you have searched our holdings for the journal title, NOT the article title.

  • ERIC documents are available as follows:
    Starting with 1993 online in ERIC (Education Resources Information Center). Eric documents prior to 1996 are available on microfiche located on the lower level in the library.

  • Contact the Information Delivery Services Department if you have any questions or concerns! You can call 585-245-5589 Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Sundays 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., or email Harriet Sleggs, Head of Information Delivery Services, at sleggs@geneseo.edu.

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How do I make a request through IDS?

Before you actually place your request:

  • Be sure that Milne Library at SUNY Geneseo does not own the item. Reference librarians can help you with this.

    Search the catalog, GLOCAT.

  • If you are looking for an article, your next step is to check our full-text databases for that article. Milne Library provides access to hundreds of full-text journals online. Keep in mind that most electronic journals focus on articles from recent decades.If you find the article in full text you'll have it immediately and can print it out, e-mail it to yourself, save it to your "Main" space or save it to your floppy disk.

    Find articles by journal title.

How to place a Request: (2 choices)

  • Through the IDS online form

  • Order an item directly through any SFX subscription database. In order to do so, you must first register yourself as an ILLiad user.

ILLiad can be accessed from any computer. When filling out any of the request forms, please supply us with important information about where you found your citation (library database, OCLC number, etc.).

If you have a deadline, please indicate the date by which you need the materials.

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How will I know when my materials arrive?

  • If it is a book, you will receive an email notice (unless you prefer a phone call) telling you that it has arrived and is being held for you at the Circulation desk in Milne Library. Your I.D. will be required to pick up the book(s).

  • Articles will be delivered electronically. To access them:
    • Go to the library homepage
    • Under Quick Links, click on "Check your IDS account"
    • Enter your SUNY Geneseo Username and Password
    • Click on logon and then Click on ok at the copyright statement
    • Under review requests click on view/download electronically received articles
    • Click on the transaction number of the article to view / download / print (opens the article up in Adobe Reader which must be installed on your computer)

What is ILLiad?

ILLiad is our automated Information Delivery Services system. It is state-of-the-art request management software. ILLiad automates routine loan functions to provide faster service in a paper-free environment.


What can I do in ILLiad?

Most research libraries implementing ILLiad have been able to improve turnaround time for information delivery requests.

Registered users:

  • Will no longer have to fill out personal contact information for each request.
  • Can access information about the status of their requests any time from any location.
  • Can renew Information Delivery materials borrowed through ILLiad.

If you have further questions, please contact us.

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