Welcome! The University of Idaho’s Distance Learning Library Services are designed to support the research needs of current UI faculty, staff, and students who live more than 30 miles from Moscow and do not attend classes or work on the Moscow campus.

GETTING A LIBRARY CARD
You must have a registered Library ID number before you can use our resources or services. Your Vandal card barcode is your Library ID number, too. So, if you have a Vandal card, you can register the 14-digit barcode by calling the UI Library circulation desk at 208-885-6559. If you do not have a Vandal card, get a Library ID number by completing this online form, or by calling 208-885-6559. If you call to get your Library ID number, you will need to have your UI e-mail address and student ID or employee V number on hand.

FINDING AND REQUESTING BOOKS THE LIBRARY OWNS
After you receive a Library ID number (14-digit barcode number) you will be able to obtain books and other materials that the UI Library owns using the online UI Library Catalog. ( Make sure the book you want is not an e-book {electronic resource). E-books that the UI owns should be available for you full-text online. Look for wording such as "click here to access resource"). When you have the record for the item you are interested in on the screen in front of you, click on the "Request" tab. Enter your barcode and last name and log-in. Choose "Hold" from the drop-down box, and click OK. You will be asked to enter your barcode one more time on the next screen. Then, submit your request. You can always check to see what you have requested, what you have checked out, and information on how to renew your materials by logging into "Your Library Account" from within the catalog. 

FINDING AND GETTING ARTICLES THE LIBRARY OWNS
The databases that the library purchases contain the full-text of many articles. Always start your search from the UI Library's homepage rather than from within a search engine such as Google. Click on Find Articles to access the list of databases, by subject and title. Use the Journal List to find out whether or not we have a certain journal and to see where it is indexed. In a search using any journal database, look for the "ArticleLinker" icon, if it does not appear to be full-text within the database you are using, and you will be directed to a full-text source if available. If your article cannot be found, this is when you would use our interlibrary loan system.

GETTING BOOKS AND ARTICLES THE LIBRARY DOES NOT OWN
Registering your barcode number, whether it is a Vandal card number or a Library ID number, must be completed before you can register for ILLiad, the UI's interlibrary loan system. Using the ILLiad interlibrary loan system lets you order full-text articles, books and other materials that the UI Library does not own. Also use ILLiad for ordering articles from print only journals that we own. We will send a copy to you via Vandal e-mail. Get registered for ILLiad here. Click on "First Time User," and just follow the prompts. Interlibrary loan services are free of charge, but there will be due dates for books that you will need to be aware of, in order to avoid overdue fines! Books will be sent to your specified home or office address. Articles will be delivered to you via your Vandal e-mail account.

Use WorldCat to find additional books on your topic to interlibrary loan.

To ask a question about requesting or interlibrary loaning books or articles, e-mail our Interlibrary Loan department (ILL) at libill@uidaho.edu or call 208-885-6843.

GETTING HELP WITH YOUR RESEARCH

Need help? For quick questions, use the Ask a Librarian e-mail reference service, or call the Information Desk at 208-885-6584 during hours that the desk is staffed.

For more in-depth research assistance, complete this online Research Assistance Program (RAP) form, or contact Beth Hill, Distance Education Librarian at 208-885-2503 or bethhill@uidaho.edu. We are happy to help you find the articles and books you need for your paper or project.

View the UI Quick Tutorials for tips on how to access and use the library's different resources.

LINKS TO OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES

For information about your location or program, click on the links below.