Interlending and Document Supply Service

What is the Interlending and Document Supply Service?

If the resource you need for your research is not held in the Library you can request it through our Interlending and Document Supply Service based in the JB Morrell Library. We will try to get the item from another library as a loan, or a photocopy for you to keep, or as an electronic document using Secure Electronic Delivery (SED).

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Before making a request...

  • Check the Library Catalogue. We will not normally apply for any item held, either in print or electronically, in the JB Morrell Library, King's Manor Library or York Minster Library. You can use, or borrow from, these libraries yourself. If the item you want is on loan you can request it on the Catalogue.
  • You can request items which are listed as Missing or in External Store with no charge.
  • Check our Electronic Library. Remember that you can access over 10,000 electronic full-text journals and a growing collection of electronic books.
  • Consider a visit to the British Library at Boston Spa. You can consult a maximum of 24 items on each visit. The Library operates a free weekly minibus service on alternate Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year.

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Who can use the service and what are the charges?

Membership group Requests at £2 each per academic year Cost of additional requests
Undergraduate and Dip HE students 10 £8.50
Staff, Postgraduate students (PGCE; Certificate, Diploma, Masters, PhD, MPhil) 30 £2.00
Research students paying continuation fees 5 £8.50
Other Postgraduate students on extensions 0 £8.50
Associate staff 15 £8.50
Others including York Graduates 0 £9.50

How to pay

  • Pay by cash or credit card at Lending Services in the JB Morrell Library or at King's Manor Library
  • Use a workorder. Staff and researchers who have a project fund available to charge against, can enter the 8 digit code in the 'Additional Information' box on the request form.
  • Pay Online

Overdue and lost items

Overdue items will incur the standard 30p per day fine

If you keep an item long past the return date, or if you lose it, the British Library (which supplies many of the items) may charge you £141.00 to cover administration and the cost of a replacement. Other libraries will have their own charges.

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What can you request?

Books and chapters from books

Each individual volume/chapter counts as one request.

For copyright reasons only one chapter per book can be copied.

Loan periods vary according to the rules of the lending library and the level of demand. All loans can be requested for return before the end of the loan period, even during vacations.

Please note, some items may be available but are restricted to use in the Library only.

Journals and Conference papers

Whenever possible we will get a photocopy of the article or conference paper for you to keep, delivered either as a paper copy or electronically (SED).

Ensure that your postal address is up to date in e:vision if you want articles delivered directly.

You must agree to the online Copyright Declaration to confirm that the photocopy is for your own personal research for a non-commercial purpose or private study.

Please note that copyright law forbids copying of more than one article or paper from a single journal issue. If you need more than one article we will try to borrow the whole issue.

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Theses

Requesting British Doctoral Theses

Use the new EThOS, Electronic Theses Online Service for searching and ordering most British PhD Theses. They will be available in a digitised, electronic format, some for immediate free download; others may take longer to be supplied if they have not been digitised already.

You can search the Thesis database on the EThOS website without logging in but to order and download, you must Login, Register (first time) and accept the Terms & Conditions.

When you have found the thesis you want you will be able to see the delivery options. A thesis available for immediate download will be sent as a PDF attachment to your email address. You can keep it and print from it and it will be free of charge.

If you want to obtain the thesis in a different format, there are additional charges and you will be asked to pay for it.

If you cannot find the thesis you want the search page will direct you to a separate 'speculative request' page. You will be notified with details of ordering.

For more information about EThOS see the Help and FAQ pages on the EThOS website or contact Interlending infodir-ilds@york.ac.uk

You may find when ordering a thesis from one of these institutions that you will be asked to pay a £40 charge for digitisation. The University of York is not able to subsidise the charge for the digitisation of theses from other institutions. Instead the Interlending Service may be able to borrow a copy for you at the standard £2 charge. Please be aware however, that most higher education institutions will not lend original or only copies of their doctoral theses.;

Currently, there are no theses available from the Universities of Oxford or Cambridge through EThOS nor can they be borrowed directly through Interlending. The alternative is to make an appointment... at Oxford or Cambridge.

British MA/MSc Theses

Make your request for this level of thesis using the Interlending request page. We will try to borrow a copy directly from the awarding institution at the standard £2 charge.

American Doctoral Theses

Make your request using the Interlending request page. If available from the British Library it will be sent on microfilm for the standard £2 charge. For those theses not held on microfilm and for all awarded after 1998, we can order a paper or electronic copy for you to keep. The charge for these will be £12.

American MA/MSc Theses

Make your request using the Interlending request page with as much information as possible. We will try to borrow a copy directly from the awarding Institution. This may take some time and is not always successful. The charge will be the standard £2.

Other Foreign Thesis

Make your request using the Interlending request page with as much information as possible. We will try to borrow a copy directly from the awarding Institution or using the British Library's World Wide Searches. This may take quite some time and is not always successful. The charge will be the standard £2.

For further help or information contact Interlending at infodir-ilds@york.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0)1904 323876

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Making a request

Online requests

From the Library Catalogue select My library Account and login, then choose Interlending or simply click on Interlending and login.

There are two request forms. Select the one you want, either book or journal article, and complete with as much information as you have. Use the 'Additional Information' box to enter a workorder number, or any other information you think we need to know. Submit the request. If you make a mistake, there is an option to cancel. If you require more than one volume of a work, make separate requests for each volume.

You can choose which library (JBM or KML) you want to collect your books from. Remember, some items may be for use in the library only. Articles will be delivered to a term time address or your email address.

It is important that your library record includes a cuurent postal as well as email address. Students make sure you update your address via e:vision.

Articles requested by members of staff will be delivered to a Departmental address or email.

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How long will it take?

This can vary but using standard delivery services usually 5-10 days, often less. For more urgent requests, which will have additional costs, contact Interlending infodir-ilds@york.ac.uk. More difficult requests, recently published, old, obscure or foreign material may take several months.
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Collecting your request

Books

We will let you know when your book arrives, normally by email. Please collect it from JB Morrell Library Lending Services or the King's Manor Library, as specified. You will always need your library card as books wiil be issued to you in circulation.

Some items may be for use in the library only.

Photocopies/Electronic documents

We will send photocopies to your mailing address or by email and you can keep these.

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Checking your requests

My library Account will list all your loans including ILDS books. There is also a separate option giving details of all your ILDS requests.

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Renewing items

Interlending items CANNOT be renewed through My Library Account.

If you want to renew an item either reply to the courtesy notice sent 2-3 days before the return date or contact Interlending infodir-ilds@york.ac.uk

Most items can be renewed if they are not needed by someone else. Renewals will cost £2 . Remember: fines of 30p per day will be charged on overdue items.

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Returning items

Please return loans to JB Morrell Library or the King's Manor Library by the due date. Fines are charged at 30p per day on overdue books.

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Other services

Searching abroad

If we cannot find an item in any UK library we may be able to extend the search abroad. As this can be a lengthy and expensive service it should be confined to essential items only.

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Using other libraries

There may be other options for using resources not held in York. The SCONUL Access Scheme gives access to other HE libraries throughout the county and the British Library