Chemistry Information Sources

Scientific and other scholarly literature is created and published at a tremendously fast rate, and in thousands of different journals, websites, and books. Unfortunately, it's impossible to subcribe to every resource, journal, or monograph that a library user might need. However, through our interlibrary loan services, we can help you borrow materials you need, wherever they are.

At the IUP Libraries, we offer two primary means to acquire materials by interlibrary loan: PALCI EZ-Borrow, and ILLIAD. 

IMPORTANT: Before using either ILL service, use the Library Search to make sure IUP does not already own the item. If the IUP Libraries owns an item that you requested, and it is currently available (i.e., not checked out) your request will be denied.

There is no cost to the library patron to use either PALCI or ILLIAD.

PALCI

PALCI lets you search catalogs at other libraries for books that the IUP Libraries do not own, and then submit a request to borrow that book. There are a few things to know about PALCI:

• You can search PALCI without logging in. However, when placing a request, you will be prompted to select your institution, and then log in with your IUP network credentials
• When you request a book, it is sent from the lending institution to IUP (or to the IUP location you specify); you will be notified by email when the book arrives.
• Since the book is physically shipped to IUP, allow 3-5 days (sometimes more) for shipping
• The lending period is determined by the lending institution, and will be clearly marked on the book
• PALCI is only usable for borrowing books via Interlibrary Loan.

ILLIAD

ILLiad is used across the country as an interlibrary loan system for academic libraries. Here at IUP Libraries, we recommend the use of ILLiad to acquire journal articles, dissertations, and books that cannot be found via the PALCI system mentioned above.

Before you can use ILLIAD, you will have to complete a profile setup, so that the ILLIAD system knows where to send materials. This process takes only a few moments (just click on "First-time User" to set yourself up), and once you've completed it, you will be taken immediately to the ILLIAD request form. ILLIAD has the following characteristics:

• You may request books or articles via ILLIAD (however, you must first check PALCI, if what you want is a book)
• You will need to have the citation information - article title, journal title, authors, year of publication, issue and volume number, and so forth - to place a request for an article
• You'll receive an email when the article is delivered; to see the article, log back in to ILLIAD and go to "Electronically Requested Articles." 
• Although most requests are filled within 24-48 hours, you should give yourself plenty of time. Allow 4-7 days (sometimes more, depending on the obscurity or age of the article) for documents to arrive

IUP's librarians have created several useful guides that can help you with library research, accessing resources both on- and off-campus, and citing your sources properly. Some key guides to check out are listed below.