Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about ILLiad

Contents

  1. What is ILLiad?
  2. How is ILLiad better than traditional ILL systems?
  3. Are there any disadvantages to the electronic system?
  4. Why do I need a username and password to use ILLiad?
  5. What if I forget my password?
  6. What Web browser should I use?
  7. Why don't I see all my older requests when I look at my request history?
  8. What is Electronic Delivery?
  9. Who do I contact if I have problems with or questions about ILLiad?
  10. Why does my browser say that you're sending a cookie? What's in it?

What is ILLiad?

ILLiad is the electronic system you use to request an item through Interlibrary Loan. The name ILLiad can be thought of as an acronym for InterLibrary Loan internet accessible database.

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How is ILLiad better than traditional ILL systems?

  1. You will find it easier to submit your interlibrary loan requests. With ILLiad, you enter your name, address, and other personal information into the system only once, at the time of your first request.
  2. Your request will be handled more rapidly and accurately as problems relating to misinterpretation of hand-written requests are eliminated.
  3. You can get many of your photocopies more quickly through Electronic Delivery.
  4. You can get information about the status of your request through the Web at any time from any location without having to call the ILL Department.
  5. Library personnel are able to serve you better because all data about your request and its handling is stored in a searchable database. We are able to respond quickly to your inquiries about your request. We are also able to gather statistical information about the performance of the libraries that lend to us, enabling us to make better decisions when choosing a lender to supply an item.
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Are there any disadvantages to the electronic system?

Some people might find it troublesome to have to log into ILLiad using a username and password. We believe this is less trouble than traditional paper and electronic systems which require you to enter your personal information with each new request.

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Why do I need a username and password to use ILLiad?

Your username and password allows us to give you secure access to information about your interlibrary loan requests.

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What if I forget my password?

In the event that you forget your password, please contact the Boston Public Library ILL Office at 1-800-422-4065 x2343.

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What Web browser should I use?

You need a Web browser that can handle forms, tables, and, preferably, one that can handle frames.  We recommend either Netscape Navigator version 3.0 or greater or Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3.0 or greater. Both browsers are available for the Windows 3.x, Windows 95 or NT, and Macintosh O/S operating systems. Netscape Navigator is available for UNIX.

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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.

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What is electronic delivery?

Many libraries ship photocopies of articles to us in electronic format. In the past we printed these articles before delivering them to you. Now, through ILLiad, we are able to offer you the option of electronic delivery of these articles in PDF format (Adobe's Portable Document Format).

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

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

The Active Server Pages technology that we use to provide live reporting for the web sends a Session ID to be stored on your machine. You can refuse this cookie and still be able to use the ILL web pages and  ILLiad without any problems.

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