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Giving you access to material that is not available in our Library.
About interlibrary loans
If you need a book, journal article or other material for your research, that is not available in this Library, then you may request an interlibrary loan.
First check whether the item is available in the Library via Surrey Search.
You could also check open access resources:
Core and DOAJ provide access to open access research articles and journals
DOAB provides access to open access peer-reviewed books
Remember you can also use browser extensions such as the Open Access Button or LibKey Nomad to put you in touch with article content
Search institutional repositories for the lead authors of the paper. It is common practice across many universities to keep freely available copies. of all research produced by their staff and postgraduate researchers. Try searching the web for the university name and the word ‘repository’ to locate if one is available.
The interlibrary loans service is for any University of Surrey staff or student with a research need.
If you are a taught postgraduate or undergraduate, you will be asked to briefly describe your research need on the request form. You can also access help on researching information from the Academic Skills and Development team.
There is a cost to the Library for interlibrary loans which we do not pass on to you, but we do ask you to pay any renewal charges.
You can apply for an interlibrary loan via our webform.
How many interlibrary loans can I have?
You may have up to 10 requests in progress at one time and can only request an item once. If you need to consult a title on multiple occasions, it may be more appropriate to purchase a copy.
How long will it take for my interlibrary loan to arrive?
Please allow at least 10 working days for a book request and five working days for an article request. We cannot guarantee delivery as we are working with external partners.
How will my interlibrary loan article/chapter be delivered?
Many interlibrary loan journal articles and book chapters are delivered electronically via the British Library’s DRM Lite system. In order to access DRM Lite files, you will need to complete a one-off registration with the British Library’s on-demand service. Please follow the DRM Lite instructions (PDF).
Articles from other partner libraries and publishers may be sent directly as a PDF.
How can I collect my interlibrary loan book?
You will be notified by email when the item arrives. All items need to be collected and returned in person to Level 1 of the Library during staffed hours. Please do not return them using the self-service machines. Most items can be taken out of the Library, but the lending library may make the item reference only.
How long can I borrow my interlibrary loan book for?
This will vary depending on where the book has been borrowed from. Loan periods can range from two weeks to two months. If you wish to renew an item, please email the library whowill check with the lending library to see if it is possible. We require users to pay the British Library renewal charge.
What if I lose my interlibrary loan?
Please take care of your interlibrary loans. If an item is not returned or is lost, you will be invoiced for the cost of a replacement. The British Library’s minimum replacement charge is over £200.
How do I request a thesis from another university?
Many UK universities have made their doctoral theses available via their institutional repository. These can be identified by using EThOS, a British Library collection that includes theses from UK participating institutions. Some theses can be immediately downloaded, or you can order a scanned version which may incur a cost.
Go to the University of Surrey open research repository and select doctoral theses where you can search by keywords or browse by research unit. This collection includes theses from 1972 to date. Some theses are restricted due to their confidential nature.
How can I get help?
Interlibrary loan staff are here to help you Monday to Friday during office hours. You can also search MySurrey Help for further information and advice.
