1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. Library
  4. Policies
  5. Library Access for Distance Learning Students

Library Access for Distance Learning Students

The Cullom-Davis Library’s services to current distance learning students (student enrolled in fully online, non-campus programs) are informed and driven by the ACRL Standards for Distance Learning Services. An important part of these Standards is the Access Entitlement Principle, which states in part:

  • All students, faculty members, administrators, staff members, or any other members of an institution of higher education are entitled to the library services and resources of that institution, including direct communication with the appropriate library personnel, regardless of where they are physically located in relation to the campus; where they attend class in relation to the institution’s main campus; or the modality by which they take courses. Academic libraries must, therefore, meet the information and research needs of all these constituents, wherever they may be.

Contacting a Librarian

All current Bradley faculty, staff, and students, including distance learning students, can contact a librarian for assistance with library resources or research through a variety of methods. Consult the Research Help page to find contact information for general research help, as well as individual librarians with specific departmental connections.

Access to Online Materials

All current Bradley faculty, staff, emeriti, and students, including distance learning students, have remote access to all of the library’s online collections, including article databases, streaming video, e-books, and many other digital resources. To access these resources from a non-Bradley network, log in when prompted using your BUnetID and password.

Troubleshooting Access from a non-Bradley Network

  • Your current Bradley status determines your login. The library uses — but has no control of — your Bradley status.
  • If you are currently taking a class or are a current employee or faculty emeritus, but have received an error message saying that your status is not current:
  • If you do not see the "Bradley University Library User Authentication" login screen like the sample screenshot here, email chen@bradley.edu.

Requesting Materials

Many systems and policies are in place to ensure access to materials not otherwise available through the Library’s online collections.

Requesting Items Not Owned by the Library

For articles and books not available in the Cullom-Davis Library’s online collections, current Bradley patrons may make an interlibrary loan request using ILLiad. Articles will be emailed to you in a digital format. The process for books and other physical items will be determined by the requester’s location. This determination will be made by the ILL Coordinator and the requester will be contacted regarding the chosen process.

Requesting Articles Only Available in Print

Articles that are part of the Library’s collection, but only available in a print format, may be requested using the Document Delivery Request Form. The article in question will be scanned and emailed to you in a digital format. This service is only available to current Bradley faculty, staff, and distance learning students.

Requesting Print Books and Other Physical Items

Students in online programs have the right to access physical materials owned by the library. In the case of books and other non-article materials, multiple access options may be considered. An electronic copy may be provided as an alternative, or the item may be mailed. Current online students should contact their liaison librarian to determine the most appropriate option for their circumstance.