Even when you're not at Carleton, you can still use the library's online resources (e.g., subscriptions to journals, bibliographic databases). Just log in first to the proxy server and you'll be able to access the library's resources as if you were here.
When you need to read an article, working paper, or book but you can't find it in the Libe's collections, you have more options than pulling out your wallet. The Inter-Library Loan (ILL) service makes it possible for the library to borrow materials from other libraries for you to use.
Look for links to ILL or Illiad (which is the name of our ILL software) from article databases, which will lead you to a request form. You can also go directly to ILL from the library web site (home page > login/your accounts > InterLibrary Loan), where you can also check the status of your requests. Articles take a few days and books around a week. You'll get an email when your item is ready.