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Research Guides

Off-Campus Access: Receiving and Returning Print Books

This guide provides information about using the University of Idaho Library from outside of the library building.

Requesting, Receiving, and Returning a Book

To request print books from off-campus, you have two options: 

1. Request that the physical book be mailed to you (see below for details). 

2. Submit a digitization request (see below for details).  *Please note, due to copyright laws, we will not typically be able to digitize more than one chapter or 10% of a book.  Exceptions include UI theses and dissertations as well as U.S. Government Publications, most of which can be digitized fully. 

Timeframe for receiving a book:

  • Mailed physical books will be sent via the United States Postal Service to the address the university has on file for you. This process may take up to 2-3 weeks. 

  • Digitized book chapters will usually be scanned and processed within 3 business days.  Keep an eye on your Vandal email for a link to the digitized version.

  • Full digitization of theses, dissertations, and longer government publications can take several weeks, depending on length.  

Returning a physical book to the library: 

You should receive a mailing label along with books you receive from the library. Use the label to mail the book back to us when you are finished with it. If you don't have a mailing label, please return books to the following address: 

University of Idaho Library Circulation
875 Perimeter Dr MS 2350
Moscow ID  83844-2350

*Coeur d'Alene Students

University of Idaho students in CdA can return their materials to the Molstead Library at North Idaho College at 1000 West Garden Avenue.  The library's hours can be found on their website. 

*Boise Students

Boise patrons have the option of picking up and dropping off books at the College of Law Boise. 

*Students near other Orbis Cascade Alliance Libraries (Summit)

Books from Orbis Cascade Alliance Libraries libraries (click link to see list) can be returned to any Alliance library regardless of where the books are from. The University of Idaho Library is a member of the Alliance; therefore, any UI Library book can be returned to any other Allilance library. Please ask if you have questions!

Placing Requests

 

If, after doing a search in Primo, you find a print book that you'd like to look at, just make a request for it. We'll mail it to the address we have on file for you. To update or verify your address, call 208-885-6559 or email libcirc@uidaho.edu.

STEP 1. Click on the title of the item. 

STEP 2. In the "Get It" section, select "Request" to have the book mailed to you or "Digitization Request" for a digital copy. 

STEP 3 (Physical Requests): Off-campus students can select "Home Delivery (via USPS)" from the dropdown menu.  Faculty will also have the option to select their UI office address for delivery.  

STEP 3 (Digitization Requests): If you are requesting a non-thesis/dissertation/government document, let us know what chapter and/or pages you'd like digitized.  If you are requesting a thesis/dissertation or government document, uncheck the "partial" button, and we can digitize the entire item.  Keep an eye on your Vandal email for a link to the digitization.