What is Interlibrary Loan?

If an item you are looking for is not owned by Wake County Public Libraries and we are unable to offer an adequate substitution, we may be able to borrow the material from another library in the United States through a service called Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Through ILL it is possible for you to obtain books, microfilm, articles and other items.

Please be aware it usually takes between 2 to 6 weeks for a requested item to arrive, and you can submit no more than 4 requests at a time.
We cannot request the following:

  • Videos, music CDs, or DVDs
  • Very new books published within the last 6 months
  • Electronic books or downloadable audio

How do I suggest a book for purchase?

If an item you are looking for is not owned by Wake County Public Libraries, we may consider purchasing it for our collection. All purchase suggestions are reviewed by the Collection Development staff, who make decisions to purchase based on our collection development guidelines.
To make a suggestion, visit the Materials Request form on our catalog.

What are the requirements to use the Interlibrary Loan service?

You must have a current Wake County Public Library card with borrowing privileges to request an ILL. You cannot have any long overdue items on your library account. Submit your request online or or ask staff at your local library for assistance.

Please return Interlibrary Loan materials by the due date printed on the cover label. When returning Interlibrary Loan items, please be sure the cover label is attached. Please return items inside to library staff rather than dropping items in a return bin. If an Interlibrary Loan item is lost or damaged, the patron must pay the lender's charges for replacement. Lost or damaged ILLs can be very expensive, so treat these loans with special care.

What kind of information do you need to make an Interlibrary Loan request?

For books - Please provide the book’s correct title and author, plus any other information you have such as ISBN, publication date or edition.
For microfilm - Please provide the specific reel number and/or time period you need (for example: The New York Times; Jan-Mar 1920).
For journal articles - Please provide the correct journal name and volume, pages numbers, article title and author.

What happens if we can't get the item you want?

If we are unable to borrow or purchase the item you requested you will be notified by email. Please keep in mind certain materials may be difficult to borrow.
For example:

  • Genealogical materials
  • Materials not published in the U.S.
  • Very old or rare books
  • Very expensive books
  • Reference materials

How will I be notified about my request?

Interlibrary Loan items usually arrive within 2 to 6 weeks. You will be contacted by email or phone when your request arrives. Since we cannot guarantee renewals for interlibrary loan items, be sure to pick them up promptly from your branch.

You can always review the status of your Interlibrary Loan online by clicking on the "Outstanding Requests" link. Click here to learn more about the ILLiad statuses.

Can Interlibrary Loan items be renewed?

Loan periods and renewals are determined by the lending library. Some lenders do not allow renewal, but most will allow one renewal. Log on to your ILLiad account to request a renewal online, or call 919-250-1205, or send an email. The lender usually determines a renewal within 2 - 4 days. You will be notified by email or phone of the final due date. The final date will also be posted to your ILLiad account.

What if I forget my PIN?

Please contact your local library or the Interlibrary Loan Office at (919) 250-1205 for assistance.

What Web browser should I use?

You need a Web browser that can handle forms, tables, and preferrably Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). We recommend the current versions of either Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.

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 order to comply with record keeping requirements of the copyright law.

Who do I contact if I have problems with or questions?

Telephone: 919-250-1205
Email: ILLRequestsLibrary@wake.gov
Website: https://wakegov.illiad.oclc.org/illiad/logon.html
Mailing Address:
InterLibrary Loan
Wake County Public Libraries
4020 Carya Drive
Raleigh, NC 27610

What is ILLiad?

ILLiad is the name of the software system we use for Interlibrary Loan. As ILLiad is a separate system from our main Library database, it requires you to create an account.

The name ILLiad is an acronym for InterLibrary Loan internet accessible database.

Why does my browser say that you're sending a cookie? What's in it?

The technology that we use sends a Session ID to be stored on your machine. You can refuse this cookie and still be able to use ILLiad without any problems.