Document Delivery

The Document Delivery Service is for ESR and Bethany students and adjunct faculty who live far from campus. This service's scope, policies, and fees may change. Due to limited resources we can not offer it to the general Earlham population.

Who can request items through Document Delivery?

  • Currently enrolled students of ESR or Bethany Seminary who reside farther than 75 miles from campus, but within the continental U.S.
  • Current adjunct faculty of ESR or Bethany Seminary, for one semester or summer prior to their course and for one month after, who reside farther than 75 miles from campus, but within the continental U.S.

What Can be Requested through Document Delivery?

Most circulating library books, and photocopies of Earlham-owned journal articles may be requested through Document Delivery. Photocopies of articles from journals owned by other libraries may also be requested via Interlibrary Loan, but 1-3 weeks additional delivery time must be expected.

The following may NOT be requested through Document Delivery:

  • Non-circulating books, including Reference materials
  • Texts required for a current course
  • Items on reserve
  • Books of which Earlham also has an electronic copy (will appear in catalog)
  • Books belonging to other libraries
  • Journals from the library collection (photocopies may be sent)
  • Videos, DVD's, CD's or other items from media resources
  • Books from the New Book shelves
  • Items too fragile, awkward, or large to ship safely

If an item falls into one of the above categories it may be possible for a short section to be photocopied. Please contact Christine Larson for more information.

Borrowing Policies and Loan Periods

Loan periods for all items are 28 days for students and 120 days for faculty. The loan period will start on the day the item is shipped, and the items must be received by the library on or before the due date in order to avoid late fines. All regular library policies regarding fines, lost book fees, renewal limits, etc. apply to document delivery books. It is usually possible to renew a book if there is not a hold request on it. Renew books by signing in to your account in the online catalog (you will need your ID barcode for this), and go to "My Account." (See this page for assistance.) The patron is responsible for knowing and observing the due date. (Overdue notices may be delayed in the mail.) For more information on general library policies see our Services page.

Photocopies may be kept, and do not need to be returned.

All patrons need a library card or ID with barcode to check out materials. If you do not have one, follow the instructions on the form and the library will create one and mail it to you. If, in the future, you receive an ID generated by Earlham Security, please come to the library to have your record updated.

Shipping

The patron is responsible for providing the library with a valid address. If items are lost in shipping due to a faulty address on the part of the patron, the patron will be responsible for all replacement costs of the item.

It will take at least one week for requested items to arrive. Photocopies from journals at other libraries will take 1-3 weeks longer than that for delivery. You will receive an email from the Earlham Libraries when items have shipped to you.

The library will pay for shipment of items to the patron. The patron is responsible for returning the items to the library, including any shipping costs. (Photocopies may be kept.)

Please return items to:

Lilly Library-Document Delivery
Earlham College
801 National Road West
Richmond, IN 47374

Click here to get to the
Document Delivery Request Form
and the
Interlibrary Loan Article Request Form

Patrons must submit complete citations for specific items on these forms. If you need help searching for relevant materials, contact Christine Larson, the theological reference librarian, (765) 983-1408. Also, see these help pages.

Document Delivery is a trial service. We reserve the right to revise our policies or end the service.