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Policies and Procedures

Document Delivery supports the faculty, staff, on-campus students and distance-learning students of Texas Tech University in their research to obtain materials from other libraries.

What can I request?
Document Delivery provides books, theses and dissertations, CDs, videos, journal articles, microforms, music scores, maps, and other research items, both within and outside TTU Libraries' collections.

General items (books, videos, CDs, music scores, maps)
We can locate and pull the items you need (excluding journals and non-circulating items) from stacks and hold them for you. If the requested material is not in our collection, we will supply you with a copy from another library, as a short-term loan. This service is free.

Journal article scans
You may request scans of articles in our collection. Journals are generally non-circulating items (both at TTU Libraries and elsewhere), so we cannot provide you with entire journals. You may request separate articles instead.

Theses and dissertations
In most cases, we are able to supply the hard copies of theses/dissertations published at other universities. If, however, the corresponding library cannot lend a thesis/dissertation, we can assist you in purchasing a personal copy for a flat fee of $29.00. Before we place a purchase request, we will contact you for confirmation.

Textbooks
We do not process textbook requests! Consortial agreements between libraries prohibit the exchange of textbooks. Therefore, requests for textbooks not in our collection will be cancelled.

Rare items
While we can attempt to request rare items (e.g., old books, artifacts) for your research, please be advised that such items are generally non-circulating and the corresponding library/institution may refuse a loan. Instead, you could use the article request form to obtain scans.

Requesting material
Requests should be submitted online through ILLiad by going here: Login to ILLiad.

Who may use the service?
Document Delivery services are available to current TTU faculty, students, and staff. Users from other institutions/libraries need to contact their "home" library or institution for this service. Specifically, Law School and Health Sciences Center faculty, students, and staff need to avail themselves of their own libraries' services. Lubbock area residents should submit their requests at the Lubbock Public Library.

Distance-learning students
If you are a distance-learning student, please select that status and give us your street address. This will enable us to ship items to you via Fed Ex.

How long does it take for requested materials to arrive?
Items owned by TTU Libraries are usually ready in 24 hours. However, during times of peak library use, extra time may be needed to fill a request. If this library does not own an item, it will be requested from another institution/library. Materials borrowed from other libraries and institutions usually take 4 to 6 days to be delivered. Articles are usually delivered within 48 hours. Items ordered from outside the region are likely to take longer.

How will I know when the materials are available?
We will email you as soon as your items are ready for delivery or pick up. Multiple requests are not always ready for pick up or delivery at the same time. Scanned articles will be delivered electronically to your ILLiad account. You can check the status of an item by logging into your ILLiad account.

Renewals
Renewals are determined by the lenders, and they will generally grant you an additional two to four weeks to your loaned item. You will be able to renew your item 4 to 7 days before the due date by logging into your ILLiad account, clicking on "Checked Out Items/Renewed Items," selecting the specific item that needs to be renewed, and then clicking on "Renew Request."

Failure to honor due dates, lending restrictions and recalls could result in the loss of borrowing privileges.

Checkout policies for items from our collection vary according to material type and patron status. Items supplied from other institutions are generally due 3 to 5 weeks after arrival. A notice will be sent to you 4 to 7 days before the due date of your item. Failure to return ILL items will result in a penalty fee of $225.00 per item charged to your account at Texas Tech University Student Business services, and a block will be put on your account.

Pickup & Delivery
Document Delivery materials are distributed at the Document Delivery office of the University Library. Materials requested by faculty are delivered Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the summer sessions. Items for off-campus faculty (such as faculty at the Reese Center) are delivered via the Campus Mail Stop facility.

Scanned articles are yours to keep. Borrowed items must be returned to the Document Delivery office or Circulation desk by the due date. Please do not remove any affixed straps or documentation from the items on loan.

Pick-up service is available for on-campus faculty. To have library items picked up from your department and returned, please contact Circulation at 742-2265 or email to libraries.facultydeliveryandpickup@mail.ttu.edu.

Request Limit
You may place as many requests as needed for your academic research. However, keep in mind that high volumes of requests will take longer to fill.

Copyright Compliance
Scanned articles are not to be used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research. We reserve the right to refuse an order if, in our judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve copyright infringement or violation of library policies.