How do I access the library's resources from off-campus?

1. Go to the NLU home page at www.nl.edu. Then click on "My NLU Portal."
2. Type in your user name and password. Your USER NAME is the first letter of your first name + the first 5 letters of your last name + the last 4 digits of your Social Security number in lower case letters. EXAMPLE: George Frederick Washington, SSN 222-44-8888 is gwashi8888 OR John Doe, SSN 1111-44-4567 is jdoe4567
3. Your initial PASSWORD is the same as your user name. After you login for the first time, the system will tell you that your password has expired. You will then need to change your password by following the directions on the screen.
4. If your password is not accepted or you do not remember your password, call the 24/7-computer help desk at 800-443-5522, xHELP (x4357) or 866-813-1177.
5. Once you have logged into the NLU Portal, click on the "NLU Library" link under NLU RESOURCES.

How do I change the timeout period for MY NLU Portal account?

1. You will need to change the time that the Portal will stay online for more than 15 minutes.
2. To change the timeout, login to your MY NLU Portal.
3. Then click "My Account" in the top left corner of the Portal.
4. In the middle of the page, change your timeout to 180 minutes, and then click on "Save Changes."
5. You will need to logout and log back in for the changes to take effect. You will only need to do this once.

What is my library borrower ID number?

• 19xxxxxxxx2840 x=your NLU ID minus the "N". The "9" replaces the "N" in your NLU ID number.
• Your library ID number is also listed on your MY NLU Portal page under Personal Information.
  

For how long can I check out materials?

• Most NLU books circulate for 12 weeks.
• There are some exceptions: DANTES material (1 week) and videos (usually 2 weeks - faculty only).

What materials do not circulate?

• Reference materials
• Journals
• Curriculum materials
• Videos and DVDs are held at the Wheeling Campus Library and circulate to faculty only. Students may view videos/DVDs in the library.

How do I find out which full text journals NLU has available online?

• From the library's home page, go to the Journal Article Search page. Then click on the Full Text Journals link.
• The "Find e-Rources and Full Text" search page will open. From this page you can search for the NLU electronic journal holdings by Title or by Subject.
• After you enter a search term and click "Go", all of the journal titles for that search will appear.
• Clicking on the title will take you directly to the database in which the journal is available.

How do I find and/or request dissertations and theses?

• To find NLU dissertations and theses, search the NLU Online Book Catalog.
  
• Dissertations and theses are located at the Chicago campus, but can be requested for another campus.
• Theses may be checked out; however, dissertations may not.

• Many non-NLU dissertations and theses are indexed through the I-Share Online Book Catalog and several NLU databases.
• However, most dissertations and theses are not available through interlibrary loan.

• Several dissertations and theses are also available in full text electronically, including several NLU projects.
• Go to ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, under the list of databases.
  

How do I find and/or request videos and DVDs?

• Videos & DVDs may be checked out to faculty only.
  
• To find videos and DVDs, search the NLU Online Book Catalog. Use the "Quick Limit" to search for "Audio/Visual" materials.
• Once you have found the video(s) and/or DVD(s) you are searching for, click on the Video Request Form link in the catalog record. An electronic and print form are also available here.
  
• For additional information about searching for and requesting videos, go to the Video/DVD Search & Request page.
  

What if NLU does not own materials that I want?

• You can request materials (such as books and journal articles) not available in the NLU Library from other libraries. This is called interlibrary loan (ILL). However, please note that there are some materials that generally are not available through ILL - see below.
  
• Interlibrary loan requests are usually filled within 1 - 3 weeks.
• Loan periods may vary from library to library and the date due will appear on the book band.
• Overdue fines also vary from library to library and the borrower is responsible for any fines or fees incurred.

Requesting Non-NLU Books

1. If the book(s) you would like to request are not found in NLU Library Book Catalog, click on "Repeat search in ALL I-Share Libraries" link or click on I-Share Libraries in the toolbar to begin a new search.
2. If a copy of the book is available, click on "Request" at the top of the page.
3. Select "National-Louis University" for your home library from the pull-down menu.
4. Enter your NLU Library ID (19xxxxxxxx2840  x=your NLU Student ID minus the "N") and last name.
5. Click "Login."
6. Select "Request First Available Copy" and click "OK."
7. Enter your NLU Library ID again, select a Pick Up Location, and click "Submit Request."
8. You should then see the message, "Your Patron Initiated Request was successful."

Requesting Journal Articles

1. You can request full text journal articles not found in the library's databases through ILLiad, the electronic delivery and tracking system used by the Interlibrary Loan Office.
2. From the Library’s Home page, click on the “My ILLiad Account” link.
   
3. First time users will need to create an account before requesting materials. Click on the blue “Click here if you are a First Time User” link and follow the directions for creating an account, which includes completing the New User Registration for ILLiad form.
4. To request an article or other material, click on the links under New Request in the left sidebar. Note: You will need the citation information of the article to complete the request. Then click “Submit Request”.
5. You will receive an email notification when the article has been delivered and is available for viewing.
6. To view the article, go to ILLiad, login to your account, and click on “Electronically Received Articles” under View in the left sidebar.
7. For more information about ILLiad, see the ILLiad FAQs.
   

What materials are generally not available through interlibrary loan (ILL)?

• Whole issues of paper journals and periodicals
• Rare, archival, and genealogical materials
• Most dissertations
  
• Current textbooks
• Films, videos, CDs, records, audiocassettes, and other multimedia materials

The above materials may be non-circulating, charged out, or on reserve at another library. They may circulate only for short periods of time (four weeks or less) and/or subject to recall.

Accordingly, library patrons should not:

• Rely on ILL to obtain textbooks or other high-demand materials or expect library staff to obtain syllabi or reading lists and request required texts for particular courses; and
• Anticipate extended loan periods for materials obtained through ILL.

How long can I check out interlibrary loan (ILL) materials?

• Lending periods for ILL materials are determined by the lending library and it is important to note that other libraries have different loan periods.
  

How do I renew my materials?

• NLU books may be renewed a maximum of two additional 12-week periods unless a request has been made for the book.
  
• NLU books may be renewed through the online catalog, over the telephone, or in person. To renew books online - see below.
  
• DANTES (1-week) books can be renewed twice by phone or in person.

Renew Books Online

• In the NLU Online Book Catalog, click on the Renew Books button near the top of the page
  
• On the following page, enter your Library Borrower ID (19xxxxxxxx2840 x=your NLU ID minus the "N") and last name and then click "LOGIN."
• As you scroll down, the first area will be Items Checked Out organized by the owning library. To renew a book, check the box to its left to select Renew. Then scroll down to the bottom of Items Checked Out and click on Renew Selected Items.
• If the Renew box is not visible, it means your account is blocked (due to fines/fees, overdues, etc.) and you should contact the circulation department.
  
• Other I-Share libraries may have different policies for renewal of their materials. In general, books from other I-Share libraries may be renewed through the NLU Online Book Catalog. If you are unable to renew item(s) online, please have the book available, and contact the Wheeling Circulation Department at 1-800-443-5522, ext. 5503.

What happens if I have overdue materials?

• Items not returned within 4 weeks of due date are assumed lost and will be billed for the cost of replacement and a $10.00 non-refundable processing fee.
• Library privileges will be suspended for overdue books or lost books.
• Library privileges may be blocked for exceeding certain thresholds (e.g. number of overdue books or lost books, overdue fines, or lost book bills).
• For ILL materials, overdue fines vary from library to library. The borrower is responsible for any fines or fees incurred and these fines must be paid directly to the lending library.
  

Do the libraries have internet access?

• Yes. All NLU Campus Libraries have public computers for Internet access. These computers are generally reserved for Library research. If you have questions, please ask Library personnel for help.
• Wireless access is also available at all campus locations.
  

Where can I make photocopies?

• Copy machines are available in all of our campus libraries.
• Copies are nine cents per page with a copy card.
• Copy cards can be purchased at campus locations.
  
• The copy machines do not accept change or cash. The Library does not give change or cash for copies or copy cards.