The normal turnaround time for Interlibrary Loan (ILL) requests is 1-2 weeks for print books, and 2-3 days for articles.

Many factors play a part in how long it takes an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) request to be processed. Factors include how many libraries will lend the item, where the lending libraries are located, and the lending library’s willingness or ability to fill the request, etc. It is essential that borrowers submit Interlibrary Loan (ILL) requests early enough to allow enough time for materials to arrive. Incomplete and/or inaccurate citations often slow processing time. Users should consult a Librarian for help completing citations.

General Collection Books Loan Period = 4 Weeks Renewals = Yes. Up to 16 weeks total

Popular Collection Loan Period = 4 Weeks Renewals = Yes. Up to 8 weeks total

Feature Films Collection Loan Period = 7 Days Renewals = No Item Limit = 3

Library of Things Loan Period = 7 Days Renewals = No Item Limit = 3

Curriculum Collection Loan Period = 4 Weeks Renewals = Yes. Up to 8 weeks total

Video Collection Loan Period = 4 Week Renewal = Yes. Up to 8 weeks total

I-Share Loan Period = 4 weeks Renewals = Yes. Up to 16 weeks.

Books from Brookens and I-Share can be renewed through your My Library Account. First login to your account using your UIS netID and password, or barcode and password if you are a community member.

Then in the upper right hand side of the next screen, click on your name. From the drop down menu, select "Library Account".

You can view and renew your checked out items under the "Loans" tab.

Books requested through Interlibrary Loan (ILL) are held at the Main Desk on Level 2 of Brookens Library until retrieved. Users will be notified by email when the book arrives and will need to present a current I-card to retrieve the materials. Interlibrary Loan (ILL) materials can only be picked up at Brookens Library. Articles and book chapters will be posted to the user’s My ILL account and the user will be notified by email that the scan has been delivered.

The Cite Your Sources Guide is a great place to get started. It has information on plagiarism and the citation styles you are most likely to encounter.

If you need more in-depth information, the Purdue OWL is a great place to go as is the Learning Hub right here at UIS.

If you need additional help, you can always contact a librarian.

Printing is available at the library, in UHB 2000, and the Student Union.

Manual printing:

1. To print a document at the library you can log on to the computers using your netID and password or by obtaining a guest username and password at the Main Desk.
2. When the document is opened, click file, then print. Select the CampusPrint printer for black and white or the CampusPrintColor printer for color. A dialog box should pop up prompting you to enter a name for the print job. Now the document is ready to print.
3. Next you will need to go to the printer and swipe your i-card at the printer. Choose the print job you named and click print.
• OR if you don't have an i-card, come up to the main desk and we can accept cash.
4. Printing costs $0.10 for each black and white page and $0.25 for each color page.

For further assistance, please contact the Main Desk at the library at 217-206-6605 or ITS Help Desk at 217-206-6000.

Choose a topic that interests you and fulfills the requirements of your assignment. As you start crafting your research question, consider the following steps.

Step 1: Identify a broad topic of interest.

• For example, immigration, pollution, health disparities, or any other issue that you think could be relevant to the assignment

Step 2: Consider other variables or subtopics to narrow and focus your research.

• Use the 4Ws of What? Where? Who? and When? to think about possible variables or subtopics.

• Example: Here are a few possible variables for a broad topic related to water pollution.

  • What? plastics, microplastics, microfiber contamination, plastic bottle waste

  • Where? oceans, lakes, rivers, or a specific area of the world

  • Who? whales, aquatic life, shrimp, humans, children

  • When? Last 10 years, historically, 20th century

Step 3: Start to string some of your variables or sub-topics into a research question.

• You may not include every W in your question, and your question may have more than one W (what, where, who, when).

• Examples:

  • In the past 10 years (WHEN), what impact have microplastics (WHAT) had on aquatic life (WHO) in the Pacific Ocean (WHERE)?

  • To what extent is plastic bottle waste (WHAT) entering the aquatic ecosystem (WHAT) and impacting the health (WHAT) of children (WHO) in China (WHERE)?

Step 4: Make adjustments with your research criteria in mind.

• As you start searching, you may find that you need to revise your research question by adjusting the variables to broaden or narrow your research question's scope.

For more detailed information about how to pick a topic, check out the Start Your Research tutorial. 

If you need additional help, you can always email us or make an appointment with a librarian.

Find that info on the Cost of Attendance page.

Find that info on the Cost of Attendance page.

Items that are returned will have all fees waived.

However, if you have been charged a replacement fee it will be posted to your student/university account. You cannot pay these fees in the library or with an I-card. These fees can be paid through your online account as you would normally pay for your tuition and fees. For more information about this, please contact the university bursar/Cashier's office.

For further assistance, please reference their guide to paying your University bill.

Your Library Account is where you can view items you currently have checked out, renew items, and check the status of requests. Follow the steps below to access your account.

1. On the Brookens Library website, click My Accounts on the task bar on the top of the screen.
2. In the drop-down menu that appears, click on My Library Account.
3. On the new page that appears, you will login with your NetID and password. Alumni and other Special Borrowers will use their barcode and password.

Please contact the library if you need any assistance.

1. If you already use Libby skip to step 3. If you do not yet have the Libby app, download it to your device.
• Apple App Store (for iOS devices)
• Google Play (for Android devices).
• Direct download from OverDrive, the developers of Libby (for Amazon Fire tablets)
• libbyapp.com (for Windows, Mac, and Chromebooks)
2. Once downloaded, open the app. Click Yes to indicate that you have a library card.
3. Tap Search for Library. If you already had the Libby app, tap the center icon in the bottom menu then tap Add Library.
4. Search for University of Illinois at Springfield and Tap the University of Illinois at Springfield listing.
5. Tap Sign in with My Card.
6. If you are a current UIS student, staff, or faculty select the UIS NetID option. Then click next on the following page. If you have an active Alumni or Friends of Brookens Library library card request a Libby account using this form.
7. You will then be prompted to log in to your UIS account using your NetID and password. Follow the prompts to log in to your UIS account. If you are asked to use 2FA you may need to navigate back to the Libby app when completed.
8. You are now signed in to the Libby app. You can rename your card if you like by tapping Rename Card. You can now search for books or browse our collection using the bottom menu.

You can request a proxy patron via the proxy patron request form.

Proxy status will valid up to 1 academic year, ending the start of the following Fall semester. If you wish to terminate proxy status earlier, you must notify library staff.

I-Share materials

While proxies can check out I-share materials on behalf of the faculty member, they can not request I-share materials on their behalf. I-share materials must be requested by the faculty member using their account, in order for the proxy to check it out on their behalf. If the proxy requests the book using their own account, the library will not be able to check it out to the faculty member's account.

There are several ways to request to have the library purchase a book that you are interested in whether for a course, general reading, or pleasure reading. The easiest way is to contact the librarian who is responsible for the department or subject area of the book. A listing of the librarians by department.

To request popular books and media use the Popular Book Request Form

There is also a Materials Request Form which can be used to request items.

You can return your books by dropping them off in the book drop bins right outside of the library on the quad side or just inside the classroom side of the building.

You can also hand your book directly to a library employee at the Main Desk during operating hours (https://library.uis.edu/about/hours.html). This includes books owned by UIS, any other IShare libraries, and books obtained through Interlibrary Loan.

If you have been reading a book in the library and are unsure where you got it from, you can always leave these items on book returns.

Advertisements for student employment for the library, or anywhere on campus, will be posted on Career Connect. Students seeking on-campus employment must apply via Career Connect.

In order to apply, students must have an approved resume uploaded to Career Connect. (If you have trouble logging in to the Career Connect website call them at (217) 206-6508

If you are unsure if you are eligible for student employment you can find information on student employment eligibility on the Student Employment Procedures website.

1. Find the scanner on the 2nd floor of the library in the printing section.
2. Accept the T&Cs
3. Select "Use Shopping Cart"
4. Place the text you need scanned FACE UP on the scanner.
5. It will probably scan automatically but you can also press the scan button.
6. The scan will immediately show up on the screen. You can crop the pages to your liking using the touch screen.
7. Once you're happy. Get your next page ready and click the scan button. The previous scan will automatically go into your shopping cart.
8. Repeat steps 4-7 until you've scanned everything you need.
9. When you've finished scanning, open your shopping cart.
10. Here, you can delete pages, move pages around, and chose where to send your scans.
11. Choose an option: Print or Email
12. For email, chose the options you'd like, and type in your email address using the touch screen keyboard.
• Expect an email from: UIS Library Zeta (libzeta@uis.edu)
13. For printing, click the options you need and click next.
14. Type in a name for your printing job using the keypad.

In order to continue to provide access to I-Share, Brookens Library had to migrate to a new search software which necessitated several changes to our previous search interface.

Additional help is available:

• Read through our resource guide on how to use the new catalog
• You can reach out to your liaison librarian for assistance and support as you normally would.
• The Librarians will also be maintaining a chat reference service, accessed via the Library homepage, and can answer your questions there as well.
• If you need more in-depth assistance, you can schedule a consultation with a Librarian who will assist you with whatever you may need.

Payment due dates

Payment due dates

Informaiton about withdrawing and refunds.

Find out more about tax and credit deductions

Tuition information by term

Find info about the Cost recovery program

The best way to request a film for a class is to use the Streaming Media Form located under the Course Reserves section of the Faculty Research Guide. If you have any additional questions, please contact your Subject/Departmental Librarian.