Library Services

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Borrowing Materials from Other Libraries

Interlibrary Loan, document delivery and E-Z Borrow services are available to RMU faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students.

/ GETTING BOOKS
If you do not locate the book you need at RMU through ROBCAT, try EZ-Borrow.

EZ-Borrow is a book borrowing and lending program among a large group of mostly academic libraries in this region. EZ-Borrow tends to have shorter turnaround times than traditional interlibrary loan services because of the proximity of the schools, the shipping methods, and the loan periods (40-days maximum).

If you do not locate the book you need through EZ-Borrow, submit an Interlibrary Loan request.

/ INTERLIBRARY LOAN
If after searching article databases and Find Journals @ RMU you find that we do not have access to an article you need, request a copy of the article through Interlibrary Loan. Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is used to request articles not available at RMU, media, dissertations, conference proceedings and books not available via EZ-Borrow.

Most articles requested through ILL are sent to us electronically and then delivered to you via email. The majority of articles arrive in a couple of days, but please plan in advance and allow at least one week for delivery.

RENEWING INTERLIBRARY LOAN ITEMS
Generally, you cannot renew materials borrowed via the EZ-Borrow system, as there is a maximum 40 day loan period established by PALCI borrowing / lending network of libraries.

To request that a book, dissertation of other materials obtained through traditional interlibrary loan be renewed, please submit an email message describing your request and desired due date to interlibraryloan@rmu.edu. NOTE: we cannot guarantee the renewal of items borrowed via interlibrary loan, as renewal terms are the decision of each lending library.

RECIPROCAL BORROWING
RMU faculty, staff and students may borrow books at most Pittsburgh area college and university libraries, (with the exception of the University of Pittsburgh). Ask a RMU librarian to assist you in obtaining the necessary documentation for this.

BORROWING FROM AREA PUBLIC LIBRARIES
We do not participate in any reciprocal borrowing agreements with local public libraries or vice versa, but -- depending on your information needs and time constraints -- the public library network may be a great resource for you. Moon Public Library is only 1 mile from RMU. Use eiNetwork to search for library materials at any public library in Allegheny County.

If you have additional questions about borrowing books from other libraries, contact Bruce Johnston, Interlibrary Loan Librarian.