The Interlibrary Loan service supports the research and educational needs of the UniSZA community by providing access to materials not held in PWB collections. Download Interlibrary Loan Form here.

Borrower's Responsibilities

• Materials obtained through Interlibrary Loan are for the exclusive use of the individual submitting the request.
• Borrowers are responsible for returnable materials from the time the materials are picked up until they are returned to the Circulation Counter. Any charge resulting from damage to materials or improperly returning materials is the responsibility of the user.
• The individual borrower is responsible for any infringement of the Copyright Law regarding materials on loan from other libraries.

Eligibility

• Interlibrary Loan services are available for faculty, staff, students and distance learning that are engaged in research and possess a library circulation account in good standing. Blocked or delinquent library records must be cleared for service.

Costs

• There is usually no charge for borrowing returnable materials. If the lending institution charges for returnable materials, the ILL staff obtains the user's agreement to pay those charges before submitting the request.

Before Submitting a Request

1. Check the NeuSEAL (Library Catalog). Before ordering, make certain PWB Library does not own the material you are requesting by searching the NeuSEAL. Interlibrary Loan does not order materials owned by the University Libraries. If the item is not on the shelf or in use by another user, contact the Circulation Counter regarding recalls, traces, and/or holds. If the Circulation Counter determines that the item will not be available in time to meet your needs, inform the ILL staff.
2. Consult the Reference Desk. A librarian at the Reference Desk can assist you in determining if the material, or similar material, can be found locally or in electronic format.
3. Requests are handled on days when Library is open. For holidays, view Library Hours.
4. Materials that Usually Can Be Borrowed.

• Materials not owned by the University Libraries
• Books/monographs
• Photocopies of journal articles, book chapters, and similar publications within copyright

5. Materials that Usually Cannot Be Borrowed

• Materials owned by the University Libraries
• Reference, genealogy, reserve, archival, thesis, and special collections materials
• Periodical issues or volumes, some proceedings, and technical reports
• Textbooks, materials for class, reserve or group use
• Maps, fragile, rare or valuable materials
• Software and computer programs, audio-visual materials, film and microforms

6. The Interlibrary Loan does not limit the number of requests an individual may submit per day. Depending on the total volume of requests, the ILL staff may be able to handle a limited number of requests from one user per day.

Completing a Request

• Submit one request per item desired.
• Submit accurate, complete citation information.
• Citations should contain all available bibliographic information, including the complete title.
• Ask a librarian at the Reference Desk to assist with title abbreviations.
• Provide the citation source (where you found the citation) to assist in the verification process.
• If found in printed material, note the title, volume, year, page number, and any other pertinent information about the source.
• For citations from online databases, note the database name as well as keywords used in your search.
• Provide the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN), International Standard Book Number (ISBN), or another identification number, if available.
• When materials arrive, the ILL staff notify users by email or phone if necessary.

Reasons for Delays/Cancellations

• The citation is incomplete or contains incorrect information.
• The request has to go to many libraries before one supply the item.
• No library is willing to supply the material.
• The material is new or not yet published.
• The material is in high demand.
• The item is a textbook, especially if currently used by the University.
• The material is rare, such as an archival collection, historical document, or dissertation with no circulating copy.
• The material is published and primarily held in foreign countries.
• The material is available at the University Libraries. In this case, the ILL staffs cancel the request and notifies the user. If the material is not on the shelf, the borrower may ask the Circulation Desk to initiate the trace/hold or recall/hold process. 

Length of the Borrowing Process

• Readily available books usually arrive in the ILL Department within two weeks.
• Readily available articles usually are delivered electronically shortly after receipt when the department is open.
• It is sometimes a challenge to find an institution able and/or willing to lend a specific item.