1) First check our library catalog to see if we own the book.
2) If Concordia does not own the book, or if it is already checked out, you can then check to see if other libraries in the I-Share network own it.
What is I-Share? Concordia belongs to a consortium (the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois, or CARLI) of about 90 academic and research libraries in Illinois that share books and other items for free. The computer-based system that provides access to library items among these libraries is I-Share. All I-Share libraries use the same computer system to manage interlibrary lending and borrowing of items throughout the network.
If another I-Share library has the book, you can place a request yourself for the book to be shipped to the Concordia library by submitting the I-Share request form that is linked in the catalog record for the book (you'll have to sign into your library account first). All you have to do is click submit at the bottom of the form; the information about the book and that you want to pick it up at Concordia will be filled in, and since you've signed into your account, the system knows that the request is from you. Books requested through I-Share usually arrive within four business days. You will be notified by email as soon as it arrives at the library.
I-Share’s reciprocal borrowing policy also allows patrons who are registered borrowers at an I-Share library to visit any other I-Share library and borrow items onsite. For instance, if a book you need is available at Dominican's library, you can go there in person, find the book on the shelf, and check it out with your Concordia ID.
3) If no I-Share libraries have the book, you can place a request for it through our Interlibrary Loan Request Form. The Interlibrary Loan librarian will then request the book through a different database that is national in scope. These items may come from a library in Illinois that isn't part of the CARLI network, or from an out-of-state library. We will try to obtain it the fastest way possible, ideally at no cost, but these items may be shipped through the U.S. Postal Service so they can take more than a week to arrive.