Interlibrary Loans

If the University of Cumbria library does not stock a book or a journal article which you need for private study or research for a non-commercial purpose, we can borrow it from the British Library or from another library for you. All interlibrary loan requests must be submitted with a signed request form.

Click to download a copy of the
book or journal request form (word doc).
book or journal request form (pdf).

There is a charge for this service - see the notes section below for information on charges for students and academic staff and research postgraduates.

If we obtain a journal article from the British Library, we can arrange for it to be posted directly to you - please write your address on the back of the request form.

If you are an off campus student you can ask for British library interlibrary loans to be posted out to you. Please send a cheque with your request, made payable to "University of Cumbria" (see "notes on interlibrary loan" section below for details of current charges)

Before using this service you must be aware that:
• when the item arrives it may be have been made ‘reference only’ by the British Library so we will be unable to post it to you.
• You are responsible for the safe return of the item.
• You are responsible for any British Library charges levied for the late return of the item.
• The return date is set by British Library, so taking postage times into account you may not have the item for very long. This will particularly apply to students who live abroad.
librarybooks
It may be worth looking at alternative ways of obtaining the material. Your local public library will have an interlibrary loans service which maybe cheaper and more convenient. An alternative is for you check the stock at local Universities. You may be able to borrow through the Sconul Access scheme. 

Please read the following information carefully before submitting requests


Books - Check the web catalogue for all University of Cumbria libraries (by selecting All Sites Catalogue before you perform your search) to make sure the book is not held in the University Library. Often a keyword search on your chosen subject area will reveal material held in this Library which may be equally relevant to your study.

Journals - Check the Journals A to Z list to check that LISS does not subscribe to the journal in print or electronic format (it maybe available in an alternative eresource).

If a journal is in stock at Lancaster University Library, Lancaster-based students should consult or photocopy the article there. You can check Lancaster University Library catalogue for journals. If you need help, please ask the Library staff.

Students on health-related courses may be able to access the resources in the Education Centre Library at Royal Lancaster Infirmary (tel: 01524-583954) and at Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle (tel: 01228-814879). Check with library staff for access arrangements and details of journal holdings.

Before you submit an interlibrary loan request, please check:
• Will the item be useful to you? Is there an abstract (or summary) of the item you can read to assess its suitability? You could ask your tutor for advice if you are unsure.
• Do you have the full details of the reference? If possible, attach a photocopy or printout of the reference with your request. If you’re unsure how to fill out the request form, ask library staff for help.
• How long is the article?  You will still be charged the full amount even if the article is only one page long.
• Is the item written in a language you can understand? Do not request items in a foreign language that you will be unable to read.
• Do you have a deadline after which the material will no longer be any use to you? Although most requests are filled within 14 days, considerable delays may occur if the British Library has to request the item from another library in this country or abroad.
• Check that you are requesting only one article from the same journal issue – more than this infringes copyright.
• For journal requests, have you signed the copyright declaration?

Notes on interlibrary loan procedures

• There is no limit to the number of interlibrary loan applications that an individual can make.
• All requests have to be paid for.
Students: There is a charge of £3.00 (non refundable) for each interlibrary loan application made by a student.
Staff: Reduced inter library loan charges for staff
To support the research and scholarly activity of staff within the University, LISS has reduced the cost of an Inter Library Loan to a flat fee of £5.00 (non-refundable), regardless of whether this is for the loan of a book or copy of a journal article. This involves LISS subsidising the actual cost of an ILL and therefore is being run as a pilot for the remainder of this academic year (2010/11). Furthermore, we wish to remind staff that their published research should be placed in Insight (our research repository). LISS will monitor whether there is any increase in deposits following the subsidised ILL charge pilot.
• There is a charge for renewing items. This is either by request OR if the book has not been returned within the agreed date imposed by British Library: Students £1.50 Staff £3.50
• Photocopies of articles held at other University of Cumbria libraries can be provided at a standard charge of 50p per request irrespective of number of pages.
• There is no refund for requested items that are found to be available electronically.
• Interlibrary loans that are overdue will incur fines of 50p per day.
• The British Library currently charge libraries over £100 for extremely overdue books – this cost will be passed on to the borrower if the item is overdue.
• For further information please refer to the Inter library loan guides for students and staff:
Interlibrary loan guide for students (pdf)
Interlibrary loan guide for staff (pdf) 

Certain publishers impose embargoes on their journals, typically 12 months. Restrictions on individual journals can be checked at the Sherpa/Romeo website.