Automated interlibrary loans
Media (books, articles in periodicals, etc.) that are not held by the Frankfurt (Oder) University Library can be requested from other libraries as interlibrary loans. You must be a registered University Library user to be able to make use of this service.
How do interlibrary loans differ from commercial delivery services?
Which media can be requested?
Why is it possible to request advance notices, films, electronic resources and degree theses although they cannot be supplied?
Which media cannot be requested?
What do interlibrary loans cost?
Why is there a charge for requests even when the use of the items may be restricted or the requested items cannot be supplied?
How long does it take for interlibrary loans to be delivered?
How do you request an interlibrary loan?
Why is it not possible to choose which library should supply the requested item?
What do you need to bear in mind when using interlibrary loans?
How do you request an international interlibrary loan?
How do interlibrary loans differ from commercial delivery services?
As with other electronic delivery services you can simply request media directly from your PC. The user’s library then processes the request (contacting the other library, dealing with replies, repeating the request if necessary, delivery, etc.).
Thus readers requesting interlibrary loans only deal with their own library and not the library from which the media are requested, as with commercial services.
Books and articles from periodicals for research and teaching purposes, training, continuing and further education as well as professional work that are not stocked by the University Library.
- Restrictions apply to electronic media, maps and sheet music.
Why is it possible to request advance notices, films, electronic resources and degree theses although they cannot be supplied?
This is because the delivery service does not have its own system for requesting interlibrary loans with actual access to the hits but only uses the bibliographical information available for documents and sources when processing requests. The documents may not actually be available or it may not be possible for them to be supplied as interlibrary loans.
Which media cannot be requested?
- Works that are in stock at the Frankfurt (Oder) University Library (including new acquisitions that have been ordered or items that are on loan)
- Works that are available cheaply in bookshops
- Light fiction or books on hobbies (e.g. cookery books, travel guides, etc.)
- Unpublished degree theses and examination scripts
It is usually not possible to request the following:
- Works of reference
- Loose-leaf publications
- Particularly valuable works or works with an unusual format
- Entire volumes of periodicals
- Recently published works
What do interlibrary loans cost?
The charges are as follows:
- Interlibrary loans cost 1.50 Euro per request (regardless of whether the requested item is delivered, when it is delivered or whether it is in stock at the University Library). The charge covers the cost of container services, postage and the charges levied by the other library.
- Postage for the letter notifying you that the requested item is ready for collection.
- For copies with more than 20 pages, the cost is based on the actual number of pages (the cost being fixed by the library supplying the copies).
- Please note that document delivery services usually charge for supplying media.
Why is there a charge for requests even when the use of the items may be restricted or the requested items cannot be supplied?
This is because, under the conditions for interlibrary loans, a service has been provided. Charges for interlibrary loans are nominal handling charges and do not depend on whether the request is successful or not.
How long does it take for interlibrary loans to be delivered?
It takes around two weeks for interlibrary loans to be delivered. If you have a particularly urgent request, we recommend using the relevant document delivery services.
How do you request an interlibrary loan?
If the required title is not in stock, you can request it via the Web-OPAC on the Internet.
Information on how to request items: To enable requests to be processed as quickly as possible, please state the bibliographic details as fully and correctly as possible. Please consult online databases (such as the Karlsruhe Virtual Catalogue), search engines (such as Google) or bibliographic works of reference to find out any information you may still need.
Please note that:
- abbreviations should not be used, write names, etc. in full instead,
- your own abbreviations should not be used,
- given names should be written in full,
- separate requests are required for each title or volume,
- the year of publication must be stated for articles in periodicals.
If we are unable to find the required title, a copy of the source of the citation or information on the bibliographic source will be needed. Please bring this information to the Interlibrary Loan Department separately.
Why is it not possible to choose which library should supply the requested item?
Interlibrary loans are a very expensive and manpower-intensive service for the libraries involved and there has to be a balance between the participating libraries. The library lending the media is therefore determined automatically in accordance with predefined criteria.
What do you need to bear in mind when using interlibrary loans?
The loan period is fixed by the library lending the media and is generally 4 weeks.
It begins when the interlibrary loan is ready for collection, not when you actually collect the loan.
Loans may be extended once for a further period of four weeks.
Please submit your request for extension of the loan before the initial loan period expires.
You will have to pay a fine if the media are not returned on time.
In accordance with the rules for interlibrary loans, the library lending the media may stipulate certain conditions regarding the use of the media in our library, such as shorter loan periods, allowing use of the media in the Reading Room only, it may not be permitted to make copies, etc.
We are not allowed to make any exceptions to these restrictions.
How do you request an international interlibrary loan?
If we are not able to obtain the requested item from another library in Germany it is also possible to request an international interlibrary loan.
The bibliographic details of the requested item must be supplied.
There is usually a charge for international interlibrary loans.
The charges and delivery periods vary from library to library.