Interlibrary Loans - Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the Interlibrary Loan Service?
Q. Who may use the Interlibrary Loan Service?
Q. How do I request materials?
Q. How long does it take for materials to arrive?
Q. How will I know when the material has arrived?
Q. Where do I pick up the material and return it?
Q. How long is the loan period?
Q. How do I know if I can renew my book?
Q. How many times can I renew an interlibrary loan book?
Q. I've renewed the book, but I still need it for my research. Can I request it again?
Q. I am trying to renew a book on an evening or weekend when you are closed. Will I be fined?
Q. Where can I return interlibrary loan books?
Q. How long do I have to pickup my materials?
Q. Will I be charged if my book is overdue?
Q. Can interlibrary loan books be recalled?
Q. I am not affiliated with the University of Alberta. How do I request materials from the University of Alberta?
Q. How much can you copy from a book or journal?
Q. What is the Interlibrary Loan Service?
A. Interlibrary loan service allows our patrons to obtain books and articles not held in the University of Alberta library system. We can get items from other Canadian libraries, the United States and internationally.
Q. Who may use the Interlibrary Loan Service?
A. Interlibrary Loan/ Document Delivery is available to University of Alberta primary users (students, faculty and staff) to obtain materials not owned by the University of Alberta from another library or supplier. The service is free to our primary users with a valid ONEcard.
Q. How do I request materials?
A. If you are a primary user (students, faculty and staff), you can access the Interlibrary Loan login page using your ONEcard number and password. If you are a first time Distance Education student, Alumni or external customer, you must register with Interlibrary Loans.
Q. How long does it take for materials to arrive?
A. This depends on availability at other librairies. Material on the shelf at the University of Toronto and ARC libraries may arrive in 7 working days. Other libraries may take 2-6 weeks. During the peak periods of October/November and February/March, the waiting time can be longer, so it is important to start your research early!
If you have a deadline, please include it in the "Need by Date" field on the form. PLEASE NOTE: We will notify you if your need by date has passed to see if you still require the item.
Q. How will I know when the material has arrived?
A. There are two kinds of e-mail messages we send out that relate to the interlibrary loan request process:
1. notification that an item has arrived and is available for pick-up
2. notification that we have been unable to locate an available copy to satisfy the request
A. Yes, you will will need to login to your account, select List All Requests, click on the request you wish to query. We encourage you to contact the Interlibrary Loans department (492-3795) if you have trouble deciphering information displayed on the screen.
When you are viewing your request on the screen, you should look for the following:
For books, look for Document Loaned (Figure 1). For copies, look for Photocopy - No Scan (Figure 2). These messages mean that the article has been processed at the interlibrary loans office.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Q. Where do I pick up the material and return it?
A. Books and other returnable material will be available for pick-up at the following locations:
Augustana
Bibliotheque Saint-Jean
Book and Record Depository*
Cameron Science & Technology Library
HT Coutts Education*
JA Weir Law*
JW Scott Health Sciences
Rutherford Humanities & Social Sciences*
St. Josephs College*
*New pickup locationsYou will be required to checkout books on your ONEcard at the time of pickup. Prevent delays in returns; leave all paperwork attached to your items.
Books may be returned to any University of Alberta book drop. Articles in the brown envelopes are yours to keep.
All journal articles for Graduate, Staff and Faculty will be sent through Campus Mail to the department address in your profile. You can update your pickup locations by logging into your profile or you can contact our office at 492-3795 if you need to change your department information.
If you are an Undergraduate student, Alumni or External borrower, journal articles and books may be picked up from the self-serve locations listed above.
Q. How long do I have to pickup my materials?
A. Articles will remain on the holds shelf for one month after which they are sent back to the interlibrary loans office where they are discarded.
Books will remain on the holds shelf for 5 days from the day your receive your email after which they will be returned to the lending library. If you cannot pick up your books within 5 days, please contact the interlibrary loans office (492-3795) at least one day before the book is due to be sent back. We may be able to hold the book for you.
Q. How long is the loan period?
A. The loan period is two weeks. Renewals are possible, but we are bound by the lending library's restrictions.
Q. How do I know if I can renew my book?
A. The green book bands will have a bright sticker indicating whether the item is renewable or not. If it is renewable, please contact the interlibrary loans department by phone (492-3795) or email (ill@ualberta.ca) before the book is due. Non-renewable books should be returned on or before the due date to avoid fines.
Q. How many times can I renew an interlibrary loan book?
A. If the lending library allows, interlibrary loan items can be renewed only once (1) for another 2 week period. After the initial renewal, the book must be returned.
Q. I've renewed the book, but I still need it for my research. Can I request it again?
A. Yes you can. Return the book to any University of Alberta book drop and then submit a new interlibrary loan request. We will try to get the book from someone else.
Q. I am trying to renew a book on an evening or weekend when you are closed. Will I be fined?
A. We accept renewals via email or voicemail for items that are due on evenings and weekends. As long as you have submitted your renewal request before the book is due, your book will be renewed without penalty.
Q. Where can I return interlibrary loan books?
A. Interlibrary loan books can be returned to any University of Alberta library. Please do not return these books to other NEOS library branches. If books are lost in transit, you will be responsible for replacement charges.
Q. Will I be charged if my book is overdue?
A. Yes, fines for overdue interlibrary loan books are $2.00 per day.
Q. Can interlibrary loan books be recalled?
A. Yes, you have 3 days to return a recalled interlibrary loan item. Fines for overdue recalled items are $5.00 per day.
A. If the request is from library-to-library, please see the Lending information.
If the request is from an on-site user (External or Alumni), please see the information for Non-Primary users. You also have the option to request materials through your local public library.
A. NEOS is a consortium of government, health, college and university libraries that cooperate to share library resources, technology, collections and people.
A. Click here for NEOS services.
Q. How much can you copy from a book or journal?
A. Copyright laws prohibit us from copying a substantial portion of a publication, i.e., we cannot photocopy an entire book, nor the entire contents of a journal issue.
Web Site Privacy Policy