Distance Delivery Service

The MSU Library ships material to eligible students, staff, and faculty at no charge to you.

Instructions

All distance requests are made through our ILLiad system.

For MSU owned material.
We can also ship interlibrary loan material. To have this service your ILLiad account needs to be set to Distance. To do this, log into your ILLiad account and go to Profile > Update Profile > and change Location to Home Address.
We ship via UPS ground and include a pre-paid return label in each package. NOTE: In order to cut costs, pre-paid return labels are not automatically provided to addresses in Lansing, East Lansing, Okemos, and Haslett. If you are in one of these areas and need a return label you can request one by emailing us at lib.ill@msu.edu.

Items can be shipped back to us or returned to campus at any of our book returns.
Pre-paid return labels are not tied to specific books, so you can use them for any library material you wish to send back.
If you need a pre-paid return label (limited to shipments within the US or Canada only) please contact lib.ill@msu.edu.
You are responsible for safely packaging returns!
- Make sure to follow UPS guidelines to determine an appropriate shipping package: UPS shipping guidelines.
- Make sure to sufficiently tape boxes and bubble mailers. When using a bubble mailer we suggest taping once around the package both horizontally and vertically to prevent bursting.
The value of books varies. Each shipping label covers liability up to $100 in case UPS loses or damages it due to their own negligence. We do not insure the package beyond that, but you can opt to insure the package at a higher rate if you deem it necessary.

Please see our return shipping policies for more information.

Any MSU affiliate who has a home address off campus - within the US or Canada - is eligible to receive distance services.

Patron’s library account and ILLiad account must be in good standing (no fines, bills, or blocks) in order to receive Distance Services.
Patron must verify their shipping location/home address at least once per semester.
Patrons are responsible for all material once it’s shipped, unless it can be determined the library made an error with the shipping address or packaging of the item.
Any applicable fines on returned material are assessed from the date the item IS SHIPPED (not when we receive it).

All material is sent via UPS.
A pre-paid return label is included with each package (not including packages addressed to East Lansing, Lansing, Haslett, or Okemos addresses).
Each package should contain NO MORE THAN 4 ITEMS.
No package will exceed 50 lbs.
We do not send internationally, with the exception of Canada.
In very rare instances we may opt to use FedEx or the US Mail.

Patrons are responsible for packaging and returning items; return items not packaged securely may be considered lost or damaged by the patron.
Trackable shipping is highly encouraged (and patrons can use return labels provided by UPS).
Patrons can return material in person (or through campus mail if applicable).
If you need a pre-paid return label (limited to shipments within the US or Canada only) please contact lib.ill@msu.edu.

The library reserves to right to determine the value of material shipped.
The library reserves the right to limit what we are willing to ship based on condition.
The library reserves the right to limit the quantity of material to be provided via Distance Services to a single patron.