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Students at a Distance

Guide for Students at a Distance

Visit our LibGuide for students who are studying at a distance.

Definition of Students at a Distance

Students at a distance are Wheaton College students who:

  • Are studying remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic for the 2020-2021 academic year.
  • Are enrolled in a Wheaton course or program during the semester in which the library service is being provided (or who are registered as thesis continuation), and who live more than 50 miles from campus.

Services Provided

Upon request, Buswell Library will:

  • Scan and email journal articles or book chapters from its printed collections.
  • Scan and email book chapters from books requested via ILLiad.
  • Mail books from Buswell’s print collections to a U.S. address at no cost to the student.
  • Mail books obtained from I-Share/ILLiad libraries to a U.S. address at no cost to the student.
  • Provide ReturnMyBooks service:  When finished with items, obtain a pre-paid postage label by visiting library.wheaton.edu/returnmybooks. A label will be emailed to you within two business days to affix to a package and return through the United States Post Office system.

Note: All library services are provided in compliance with copyright law. The library may decline a request that in our judgement is not in keeping with U.S.C., Title 17, Copyright Law.

How to Obtain These Services

Learners at a Distance should take the following steps to obtain needed materials:

  1. Use the Buswell website to find full-text articles and e-books that are viewable online.
  2. As a Wheaton College student you have in-person borrowing privileges at any I-Share library. You can check out items at any I-Share library, provided that library is permitting visitors. Contact the library to confirm their current policies.
  3. Use your Wheaton ILLiad account to place requests for journal articles and book chapters.
  4. Visit your local public library to request items through their interlibrary loan service.
  5. If you live near an ATLA library, your Wheaton ID card will allow you to borrow items there, provided that library will permit your entry.  See a list of Atla libraries.
  6. If you live near a non-I-Share-or-Atla academic library, investigate their policies for services to guest patrons and take advantage of their interlibrary loan service if available.
  7. If none of the above options meet your needs, request physical items from Buswell’s collection using the request option in the catalog search.
  8. If Buswell does not own a needed item, you cannot obtain it locally, and requesting selected chapters is not possible, place a request via I-Share or ILLiad for the item.
  9. When physical items requested from Buswell, I-Share, or ILLiad are available at Buswell, you will receive an “Item Available” email suggesting that the item may be picked up at the Circulation Desk. Forward that email to buswell.delivery@wheaton.edu, directing Buswell to mail the item to you. Please include in the email:
  • Your name
  • Mailing Address
  • Your phone number
  • The item title(s)
  1. Buswell will ship the requested item(s) using UPS. You will receive an email with tracking information.
  2. Since interlibrary loan due dates do not include extra shipping time, this option should be a “last resort” step reserved for items critical to your research.
  3. Since books cannot be shipped outside the U.S., staff will scan an entire book for electronic delivery, if necessary as a “last resort” service reserved for items critical to your research.
  4. When you are ready to return your items, use the ReturnMyBooks service mentioned above to obtain a prepaid return shipping label.
  5. Allow sufficient shipping time for items to be received at Buswell by their due dates.