How do I request library materials (articles, books, etc.)?

Document Delivery FAQs

If you need an article, book, or other item that is not available in the NIH Library's collection, the Library can get it for you through the Library's online request system, ILLiad. You must have an ILLiad account to request materials.

For urgent literature needs, contact your IC's dedicated librarian.

1. What is ILLiad?
2. What is the preferred browser for using ILLiad?
3. Who can request materials?
4. How do I create an ILLiad account?
5. How do I submit a request for an item?
   • Manually using the ILLiad form
   • From a PubMed or other database search
   • Using a PubMed PMID
   • Document Delivery Tutorial
6. How do I request a book, book chapter, conference paper, patent, report, or thesis?
7. I received an email telling me that my item is available. How do I get it?
8. I forgot my password
9. How do I get my account unlocked?
10. How do I change my password?
11. How can I cancel a request?
12. How can I edit a request?
13. Who can I contact with a question or problem with requesting materials?

What is ILLiad?

Interlibrary Loan Internet Accessible Database, or ILLiad, is the electronic system the NIH Library uses to process material requests.

The NIH Library provides access to a premier collection of scholarly resources to support research at NIH and HHS, including thousands of journals and eBooks. The NIH Library collection is used extensively but there are times when the trail of research leads to an article, book, report, or other item that is not available from our collection. In those cases, the Library leverages a global network of connections and agreements through ILLiad to find and obtain many of these items for you at no additional cost.

What is the preferred browser for using ILLiad?

ILLiad works best with Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. ILLiad works with Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer, but you may experience delays and technical issues viewing the PDFs for your filled requests.

Who can request materials?

All NIH and CMS employees may request materials from the NIH Library. The service is also available to personnel from the following HHS groups:

• Administration for Children & Families (ACF)
• Administration for Community Living (ACL)
• Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ)
• Federal Occupational Health (FOH)
• Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA)
• Indian Health Services (IHS)
• Immediate Office of the Secretary (IOS)
• Office of the Secretary (OS)
• Program Support Center (PSC)
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

You will need your NIH, CMS or HHS PIV card and pin number to access the system. First time users are prompted to provide their government contact information so an account can be created. For users without PIV cards there is a login option using your ILLiad account credentials. If you do not already have an ILLiad account then one can be created by clicking the First Time User links at the bottom of the login page. Please always use government mail and email addresses when creating accounts.

How do I create an ILLiad account without a PIV card?

Go to https://nihlibrary.ors.nih.gov/illiad/. Click Login or Register on the right under NIH or HHS users without a PIV card.  

Click First Time Users, located beneath the blue Logon to ILLiad button.       

Fill out the registration form including all the required fields. Passwords must be at least eight characters long and contain a lowercase letter, an uppercase letter, and a number. Use your NIH, CMS, or HHS office mailing address and phone number.

How do I submit a request for an item?

You may submit requests manually using the ILLiad form, or from PubMed @ NIH or from another database search, via the NIH Library Go button. It is important to use PubMed @ NIH because regular PubMed will not display the NIH Library Go button. PubMed @ NIH also allows access to subscribed online journal content from the NIH Library.

If you submit the request via a database search, citation information will be automatically populated into the request form.

Entering a request manually using the ILLiad form

1. Log into your ILLiad account. If you do not have a PIV card and forgot your password, click Login or Register under NIH or HHS users without a PIV card. At the bottom of the next page click on the Forgot Password? link to reset it.
2. From the main ILLiad screen, click New Requests from the drop down menu and select the type of item you wish to request.       
   
3. Fill out the request form then click Submit Request at the bottom of the page.

From a PubMed @ NIH or Other Database Search

If you access PubMed @ NIH or another database (e.g., Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, etc.) from the NIH Library's website, the records will display the blue NIH Library Go button to indicate the item is either available from the NIH Library or, if it is not available, can be requested via ILLiad. A list of available databases can be found under Resources at the NIH Library's homepage. It is important for NIH and HHS users to use PubMed @ NIH because regular PubMed will not display the NIH Library Go button.

1. Click on the blue NIH Library Go button. You will be directed to the full-text article if the Library subscribes to the journal.
2. If the Library does not have access to the full-text, you will be directed to the NIH Library catalog. Click Request via Document Delivery (see image) to request the article through the ILLiad system.       
   
3. Log into your ILLiad account.
4. Once you’ve logged in, the form should be pre-populated with the article information. Confirm the information is correct and then click Submit Request.

Using a PubMed PMID

If you have a PubMed ID number (PMID) for the article you want to request, you can use it rather than entering the citation information manually into ILLiad.

1. Identify the PMID, which is located below the abstract on every PubMed record.       
   
2. From your ILLiad account, click New Requests and from the drop down menu select Single PMID. You can only enter one PMID at a time.
3. In the Notes field, put any information here that may help us find the item, as well as any other pertinent information. Click Submit Request.

Document Delivery Tutorial

Watch a quick 4-minute tutorial on how to use the NIH Library's Document Delivery Service.

How do I request a book, book chapter, conference paper, patent, report, or thesis?

1. Log into your ILLiad account.
2. After logging in, select New Requests, then from the drop down menu, select the type of item you want to request (Book, Book Chapter, Conference Paper, Patent, Report, Thesis, etc.).       
   
3. Complete the request form with as much information as possible. You can add additional details or webpage links in the Notes section to assist us with locating the item.
4. Click Submit Request.

I received an email telling me that my item is available. How do I get it?

1. Log into your ILLiad account.
2. Under Electronically Received Articles, click View to the right of the journal title and transaction number next to Actions. A PDF of the item will open in your web browser. Print or download the PDF to your computer.

I forgot my password

If you have a PIV card then you do not need to remember your ILLiad password. However, for users without PIV cards please follow these instructions.

1. Go to the ILLiad page.
2. Under NIH or HHS Users without a PIV card click Login or Register. 
3. Click the Forgot Password? link at the bottom of the screen.
4. Enter your username, which should be your NIH, CMS, or HHS email address. You will receive an email from ILLiad to reset your password.

How do I get my account unlocked?

​Call the NIH Library's Information Desk at 301-496-1080 or email Document Delivery at edelivery@nih.gov to request help with unlocking your ILLiad account.

How do I change my password?

1. Login to your ILLiad account. If you forgot your password, click the Forgot Password? link.
2. Click Profile, and select Change Password from the drop-down menu.
3. Enter your current password and your new password, and click Submit Information.       
   

How can I cancel a request?

1. Requests can be cancelled if they haven't been processed. Login to your ILLiad account. Scroll down to Outstanding Requests.       
   
2. Click the Actions button associated with the request you want to cancel. The record for that article will open.
3. Select Cancel Request. The request will be cancelled immediately and removed from your list of Outstanding Requests.       
   

How can I edit a request?

1. Login to your ILLiad account.
2. At the main page, scroll down to the Outstanding Requests.
3. Click the Actions button associated with the request you want to edit.
4. Select Edit from the menu.       
   
5. Add or update the information for the item requested.       
   
6. Click Submit Request.       
   

Who can I contact with a question or problem with requesting materials?

Email edelivery@nih.gov or call 301-496-1080.