Interlibrary loan basics
Use interlibrary loan to request items not held by the UVic Libraries. The service is free to you as the costs are absorbed by the Libraries.
How do you know if UVic Libraries holds an item?
- Use Library Search to see if we have the item.
- If you can't find the item you need, use the Request an interlibrary loan link from the Quicklinks menu on the right-hand side of the libraries website. This link will take you to the interlibrary loan request form.
- When completing the form, the exact title is a required field. Please note, the more information you provide the better chance there is of your request being successful. Remember to omit initial articles; a, an, the, and their equivalents in other languages when searching by title.
Highlights of our Borrowing Policy
- If UVic Libraries holds the title in any format (microform, e-book) or it is on reserve or checked out, an interlibrary loan request for the item will be cancelled.
- Books and other returnable items have a 4-week loan period with the possibility of up to a 4-week renewal.
- Most articles and book chapters are delivered via email to your @uvic.ca email address. If you have another address which you check more frequently, be sure to forward your @uvic address.
- You will receive an email with a link to the PDF file which is available for 5 days and can be accessed 4 times or printed.
- The pickup location for books or printed articles is the Ask Us Desk at Mearns - McPherson Library or the loan desk at Law Library, depending on the location you choose.
- Please be sure to fill in the required need by date field. Please give us as long as possible a date to avoid premature cancellation.
- Requests from undergraduates are limited to Canada only. For exceptions, you must submit a letter of permission.