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University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Distance Learners and Instructors: Library Resource & Services

Help with Research Instruction

The library is here to help you teach!

  • Request assistance in designing and testing library assignments, using library resources in the classroom, and creating class-related bibliographies.
  • Schedule instructional sessions designed for your class, covering areas such as library research strategies, critical thinking skills, and information literacy.

Contact your departmental library or subject specialist librarian for details on what instructional services they provide, or you can contact the Main Library Information Desk for more information.

Library Tutorials

The library has created a variety of text-based and video tutorials for library users. We encourage faculty to refer students to this material!

Obtaining Materials for Instructional Use

If the reading is a chapter from a printed book...

  • Borrow a copy from your own library, OR
  • Use your own library’s interlibrary loan service, OR
  • Request it from the University of Illinois Library (see next step for process)

 

To request an electronic copy of a chapter from a book in the U of I Library...

  1. First search the library catalog to get the complete citation and call number
  2. Use DocExpress to request a copy of the chapter, the process is explained below.

 

If the reading is a journal article...

  1. Determine if the article is available electronically from the University of Illinois Library, or on the open web
  2. Search the journal search in the library catalog to see if the Library subscribes to the journal in electronic format, and to verify that the particular issue you need is available
  3. If there is an accessible electronic copy of the article, link it in your course site

 

If the article is not available electronically...

  • Make a copy from your own library, OR
  • Use your own library’s interlibrary loan service, OR
  • request it from the University of Illinois Library (see next step for process)

 

To request a photocopy or electronic copy of an article from a print journal owned by the U of I Library, you may use the DocExpress service as outlined below.

If the article/book chapter you need is not available in an electronic journal, but the Library owns it in print, you may use DocExpress to order a scanned copy of the article. To do so:

Verify that the library owns the journal in print by following these steps:

  1. Visit the Library website and click on the heading along the top of the screen that says Find Materials and select Library Catalog from the drop-down menu.
  2. Click on the Journal Search option above the search box and type or copy and paste the title of the journal in the search box.
  3. View the catalog record for the journal title and verify that the library owns the volume and issue that you need.
  4. Note the call number and location (e.g., "Main Stacks" or "Engineering") of the item.

Then, place a DocExpress request for the article.

  1. Visit Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery.
  2. Scroll to DocExpress and click "Login to ILLiad to Request Item". 
  3. Enter your NetID and password to log in to your ILLiad account (if you have a NetID, the system automatically generates an ILLiad account for you).
  4. Log in with the 2-Factor Authentication. 
  5. Fill in the DocExpress request form with the required information (author, title, date, volume, etc). Be as specific as possible.
  6. In the notes field, enter "Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning" and identify the course for which you are requesting the material (e.g., LIS 458).
  7. Select the button that says, "Submit Request."
  8. Your request will be processed and you will receive a scanned copy of the article or book chapter you have requested.

Note: You will NOT be charged for your DocExpress request! This service is free to faculty, staff, and students.