Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about ILLiad
- What is ILLiad?
- How is ILLiad better than traditional ILL systems?
- Are there any disadvantages to the electronic system?
- Why do I need a username and password to use ILLiad?
- What if I forget my password?
- What Web browser should I use?
- Is security a problem if I use a public workstation?
- Why don't I see all my older requests when I look at my request history?
- What is Electronic Delivery?
- Who do I contact if I have problems with or questions about ILLiad?
- Why does my browser say that you're sending a cookie? What's in it?
How is ILLiad better than traditional ILL systems?
- You will find it easier to submit your interlibrary loan requests. With ILLiad, you enter your name, address, and other personal information into the system only once, at the time of your first request.
- Your request will be handled more rapidly and accurately as problems relating to misinterpretation of hand-written requests are eliminated.
- You can get many of your articles more quickly through Electronic Delivery.
- You can get information about the status of your request through the Web at any time from any location without having to call the ILL Department.
- Library personnel are able to serve you better because all data about your request and its handling is stored in a searchable database. We are able to respond quickly to your inquiries about your request. We are also able to gather statistical information about the performance of the libraries that lend to us, enabling us to make better decisions when choosing a lender to supply an item.
Are there any disadvantages to the electronic system?
Some people might find it troublesome to have to log into ILLiad
using a username and password. We believe this is less trouble
than traditional paper and electronic systems which require you
to enter your personal information with each new request.
Why do I need a username and password to use ILLiad?
Your username and password allows us to give you secure access
to information about your interlibrary loan requests. We can
also enable you to edit your personal information such as your
address or phone number.
Your username can be anything you like, such as your name,
abbreviations, or an alphanumeric code. Your password also can
be anything you like. We recommend that you follow good security
practice and choose a password that is different from those you
use to access other systems. However, no one but you will know
your password, not even the library staff. The password you set
is stored in an encrypted file.
What if I forget my password?
In the event that you forget your password, please contact the
Interlibrary Loan Office at (314) 362-2780 or
BeckerILL@wusm.wustl.edu. We can then reset your password allowing you access to
ILLiad. Please change your password once you logon to ILLiad.
What Web browser should I use?
You need a Web browser that can handle forms, tables, and
preferably Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). We recommend the
current versions of either Microsoft Internet Explorer or
Mozilla Firefox.
Is security a problem if I use a public workstation?
Yes. Web browsers cache information and create a history file on
the local workstation. This allows a subsequent user of the
workstation to access the system under your name using the
browser's Back button to recall a page from the cache, or by
finding a page with your personal information in the browser's
history file. If you are concerned about the security of your
interlibrary loan requests, you can take the following steps:
- Access ILLiad only from your personal computer or an otherwise secure workstation.
- Access ILLiad from a public workstation in the Interlibrary Loan office in the library. These computers are supervised by the library staff.
-
When using a public access workstation:
- Delete from the history file those pages that contain your personal information.
- Exit from the Web browser before you leave the workstation. This prevents the Back button from accessing the pages you were using.
Why don't I see all my older requests when I look at my request history?
From time to time we purge older records from ILLiad. Our policy
is to keep requests online for several years order to comply
with record keeping requirements of the copyright law.
Who do I contact if I have problems with or questions about ILLiad?
Please contact the Interlibrary Loan Office at (314) 362-2780 or
BeckerILL@wusm.wustl.edu.