Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about ILLiad

Contents

1. What is ILLiad?
2. How is ILLiad better than traditional ILL systems?
3. Are there any disadvantages to the electronic system?
4. Why do I need a username and password to use ILLiad?
5. What if I forget my password?
6. What Web browser should I use?
7. Is security a problem if I use a public workstation?
8. Why don't I see all my older requests when I look at my request history?
9. What is Electronic Delivery?
10. Who do I contact if I have problems with or questions about ILLiad?
11. Why does my browser say that you're sending a cookie? What's in it?

What is ILLiad?

ILLiad is the electronic system you use to request an item through Interlibrary Loan. The name ILLiad can be thought of as an acronym for InterLibrary Loan internet accessible database.

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How is ILLiad better than traditional ILL systems?

1. 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.
2. Your request will be handled more rapidly and accurately as problems relating to misinterpretation of hand-written requests are eliminated.
3. You can get many of your photocopies more quickly through Electronic Delivery. (Not available yet).
4. 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.
5. 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.

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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.

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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.

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What if I forget my password?

In the event that you forget your password, please call the Interlibrary Loan Office at (413) 542-2666 or e-mail the Library. We can then reset your password allowing you access to ILLiad. Please change your password once you logon to ILLiad.

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What Web browser should I use?

You need a Web browser that can handle forms, tables, and, preferably, one that can handle frames.  We recommend Netscape Navigator version 3.0 or greater, Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3.0 or greater, or Firefox. All three browsers are available for Windows and Macintosh OS operating systems. Netscape Navigator is available for UNIX.

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Is security a problem if I use a public workstation?

It can be. 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:

1. Access ILLiad only from your personal computer or an otherwise secure workstation.
   
2. Access  ILLiad from a public workstation in the Amherst College Library. These computers are supervised by the library staff.
   
3. When using a public 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.

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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, in order to protect your privacy. Our policy is to keep requests for several years order to comply with record-keeping requirements of the copyright law.

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What is electronic delivery?

Many libraries ship photocopies of articles to us in electronic format. In the past we printed these articles before delivering them to you. Now, through ILLiad, we are able to offer you the option of electronic delivery of these articles in PDF format (Adobe's Portable Document Format). You can read more about electronic delivery on the Electronic Delivery Information page.

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Who do I contact if I have problems with or questions about ILLiad?

For ILLiad system problems or InterLibrary Loan Questions: call Amherst College InterLibrary Loan office at (413) 542-2666 or e-mail the Library.

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Why does my browser say that you're sending a cookie? What's in it?

The Active Server Pages technology that we use to provide live reporting for the web sends a Session ID to be stored on your machine. You can refuse this cookie and still be able to use the ILL web pages and  ILLiad without any problems.

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