Do you need a journal article or book that Colgate Libraries do not have or that is currently checked out? We can try to get it for you!
Interlibrary loan (ILL) is the sharing of library materials worldwide. We find and borrow the resources you need that Colgate does not have (and we lend our materials to other libraries).
Log into "My Interlibrary Loan" to place a request or use the "Request From Interlibrary Loan" feature found in many of our databases.
ILL requests will be sent to our library for you to pick up. You will be notified via email when they have arrived and you can check the status of your request via "My Interlibrary Loan" at any time. You can pick up materials at the Borrowing Services Desk on the third floor of Case Library and the service desk in Cooley Library.
Articles and book chapters are sent to "My Interlibrary Loan" as PDFs. You can download these and save them in the cloud or on your computer.
Interlibrary loans are typically requested from another library within 24 hours.
Allow one to two weeks for an item to arrive. Books are shipped via regular mail. Articles usually arrive sooner.
Librarians can help you with any part of your research. Library Faculty have knowledge in specific subject areas, so we can provide expertise in discovering the best resources for your research papers. We are here to meet one-on-one with students and faculty to assist with this process.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We want to hear from students and will respond quickly! If we can't help you, we will find you the best person that can, so please ask.
Here are ways you can get in contact with us:
You can schedule a research appointment using our online calendar (Monday - Friday 9am - 4:30pm) with either the first librarian available or a librarian of your choice. If you need help using the online calendar, you can email us to set up an appointment.
You can email a question to our help desk, and it will be answered between 9am and 5pm (9-4 on Fridays).
For Special Collections and University Archives, you can submit questions here.
During the semester, you can text a librarian at 315-775-8951 between 9am and 5pm (9-4 on Fridays).
Colgate University Libraries operates on an "open stack" system. That means that you can find the "call number" of a book, locate it on the shelf, and take it to the Borrowing Services Desk on the third floor of Case Library or the service desk in Cooley to check it out.
Contact-free pickup is here! “Request” an item in Colgate Libraries’ catalog" and use our contact-free pickup inside the third floor East entrance of Case-Geyer, facing the James B. Colgate Hall Colgate Hall or at East Hall (by the elevator) in the Cooley Science Library.
You will receive an email when your items are ready for pick-up. Your name will be on your item(s). Contact-free pickup times are available during open library hours.
You can self-checkout library books on the new meeScan terminals located at the Case and Cooley Circulation desks or by using the meeScan app.
You may checkout (take home) up to 150 books at one time. Each book may be kept for the ENTIRE SEMESTER. Books are due on the last day of final exams. If you need the book longer, you must renew it.
You can see what you have checked out, due dates, and request renewals by going to My Library Account and typing in your Colgate University username and password or your last name and the barcode number from the back of your Visiting Borrower card.
If you are on campus, library materials may be returned to the book return located inside the third floor East entrance of Case-Geyer, facing James B. Colgate Hall, or the book drop located outside of the Cooley Science Library. Refer to the Fines & Bills page for information on overdue and lost library materials.
Colgate University Libraries | 13 Oak Drive, Hamilton, NY 13346 | 315-228-7300