Guide: Distance Learning Students: Inter-Library Loans

If there is not a copy of a book, journal, article or other publication you need in our print or electronic collections, library staff will try to borrow it or obtain the required article or chapter from another library or information service provider for you.

Most resources held in SRUC campus libraries are available to all members of SRUC, regardless of which campus they are registered with - reference & short loan materials are not normally sent to another campus.

Users may request items from any SRUC campus library by asking staff to place a reservation on the library system for them or by placing their own request on the library catalogue.

This service is normally offered to dissertation students, postgraduate students, and SRUC staff only.

Exceptionally, if an item of stock that you require has gone missing, we will try to get it from another library for you

• Obtaining loans can be expensive and it is often time-consuming for staff to locate a library that is willing to lend.
• The SRUC library service passes on charges to the person who has requested the item.
• This is why we ask all students requesting ILLs to obtain a counter-signature from a member of staff before we proceed with requests.

• Unless you are willing to cover your own costs, no money changes hands at the counter - charges are normally levied indirectly to SRUC departments.
• This is why we ask all students requesting ILLs to obtain a counter-signature from a member of staff before we proceed with requests.

Put as much information as possible on Inter-Library Loan request forms - you can find forms in your campus library or download a copy via the Related Downloads link at the foot of this page.

It's a good idea to keep a note of where you saw the reference, in case library staff require more information. If there are difficulties in tracing items, we may need to see the original citation, as given in your source of reference. You will also be required to sign a copyright declaration before requests can be processed.

• It depends on which library or information service provider we have requested the loan from.
• Some heavily used titles may be on waiting lists.

© CollegeDegrees360 (2012), CC BY-SA 2.0

You can download an ILL application form here. The Non-Commercial form is for research or private study. While a copyright fee may be payable for Commercial ILL requests (links below):

Send your completed Inter-Library Loan form, to the following e-mail address:

Contact: SRUCILLs@sruc.ac.uk

• Again, it will depend on which library or information service provider we have requested it from.
• You will be given this information when you collect the loan.

Renewal is normally available, unless the item is on a waiting list.

Again, it will depend on which library or information service provider we have requested it from - check with Library staff in advance of the due date, in case renewal is not possible.

Library staff are here to help.  If you have any queries about this topic or anything else concerning the library, please don't hesitate to ask.

References for images included within this guide:

CollegeDegrees360 (2012) Female student holding library books. Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/83633410@N07/7658039864/ (Accessed: 10 October 2019).