What is Interlibrary Loan (ILL)?

Can I cancel my request?

Who can use ILL?

How do I track my request?

What kind of materials can I request?

How much can be copied from one book or journal?

How much does it cost?

How do I know when my items are ready for me?

How do I place a request?

I have some more questions. Who do I ask?

When will my requested items arrive?

Institutional ILL Policy (Lending to Other Libraries)

Not sure what to do? Try this illustrated ILL Tutorial

HOW DO I CONTACT INTERLIBRARY LOAN (ILL) STAFF?

Email: ill@twu.ca

Phone: 604-513-2121 (ext. 3902)

WHAT IS ILL?

Interlibrary Loan is a formal agreement between libraries to borrow books and obtain photocopies of journal articles from each other.  It is a service that enables TWU students, faculty and staff to obtain materials not owned by the TWU Library.  This agreement means that we can provide you with materials from hundreds of libraries across Canada and the U.S. 

WHO CAN USE ILL?

ILL service is available to current TWU students, staff and faculty.  Local area alumni are also eligible (with an alumni library card), as are community borrowers. ILL service is not available to TWU Distance students, or affiliate, COPPUL, and CURBA borrowers.

WHAT KIND OF MATERIALS CAN I REQUEST?

The most frequently requested items are journal articles and books.  Other items that may be available are dissertations/theses, microfiche, and microfilm.  Audio-visual materials are not available through ILL.

Materials that can be found in the TWU library or through one of our electronic resources CANNOT be requested through ILL, unless the item is missing.  If the item you are looking for is checked out to another user, use the Request option in the Library catalogue to place a hold on the title.

Each library has its own policy on what types of materials they will lend, so it is not always possible to obtain the item you are looking for.  We will contact you if we are having problems obtaining your requested item.

HOW DO I PLACE A REQUEST?

Requests can be made using our Online Request Form.  Requests can also be made by following the "Where can I get this (Interlibrary Loan)" link from most electronic databases.

WHEN WILL MY REQUEST ARRIVE?

Journal articles and book chapters are sent as photocopies, and can take from 2 days to 2 weeks to arrive.  Books, theses, or microfiche/film can take from 1 to 4 weeks.  Please note that once we send out your request, we have very little control over when the materials will be delivered. 

Please allow one week before inquiring about the status of your ILL requests.

Be sure to fill in the Need-By Date on the request form, to help avoid receiving materials past the date that they will be useful to you. 

Rush requests are generally not accepted.

CAN I CANCEL MY REQUEST?

It is sometimes possible to cancel a request.  If we receive your cancellation before the request has been sent to another library, it may be possible to cancel your request.  If the request has been sent, we cannot cancel it.  Decisions will be made on a case by case basis.  Please contact ILL staff at ill@twu.ca to request a cancellation, and we will let you know if your request can or cannot be cancelled.

It may be necessary for us to cancel your request, for any one of the following reasons:

• Your item is available in the TWU Library;
• The citation is incomplete or inaccurate;
• There are no libraries which have the item;
• There are no libraries which will lend the item to us;
• The item cannot be obtained by the Need-By Date;
• The request exceeds copyright restrictions.

As mentioned above, we will contact you if we are having problems obtaining your requested item, or if we need to cancel your request.