The Library

FAQ

What is interlibrary loan (ILL) and who can use it?

Interlibrary Loan is a UCSD-subsidized service for all current UCSD students, staff, and faculty/academics to request from other libraries books or copies of articles that are not available at UCSD when needed to support University research, coursework, or UC job-related functions. You must be registered with the UCSD Libraries in order to use interlibrary loan services. Some categories of patrons, including those in degree programs jointly administered by UCSD, students affiliated with other schools, or those enrolled in clinical rotations or internships at UCSD, may not be eligible for ILL privileges. Contact the ILL unit with questions about eligibility.

How much does it cost?

Most Interlibrary Loans are subsidized by the UCSD Libraries for eligible users and do not, therefore, require payment for UCSD students, staff, and faculty/academics. Users will be alerted in advance if a cost will apply and asked if they wish to follow through with the request.

How long does it take to arrive? Is rush delivery available?

Generally articles are emailed to you from other UC libraries within 3 working days; books from other UC libraries usually arrive in 3-12 days. Recently published or hard-to-find items may take several weeks. Foreign dissertations may take 1-2 months to arrive.

If you require RUSH delivery, please call or email the library for assistance. Additional costs may be incurred for Rush delivery.

Can I remove the ILL book strap?

The book strap attached to each ILL item should not be removed.  It contains information that allows non-UCSD material to circulate through the UCSD Library system.  Removing the book strap will impede the clearing of the ILL item from your account, potentially resulting in overdue and/or replacement fees.

Also, the ILL book strap is UCSD property.  A $ 10.00 replacement fee will be assessed for each book strap missing at the time of return.

What are the overdue and/or replacement fees for ILL materials?

Interlibrary loan items are subject to overdue, processing and replacement fees if they are not returned on time.  A $ 14.00 overdue fee is assessed to each item returned 1-30 days past its due date.  Any item not returned more than 30 days past its due date is considered lost and will be charged replacement and processing fees. Replacement costs are assessed individually per title.

Additionally, a $ 10.00 replacement fee will apply for each ILL book strap not returned with the material borrowed.

How do I appeal an overdue ILL fine?

Use this form to submit an appeal for an ILL item. You may also submit the form from the workstation at the Geisel Library Circulation Desk.

What if I am not a current UCSD student, staff, or faculty?

Those not currently affiliated with UCSD, including alumni, non-concurrently enrolled extension students, local businesses, and UCSD students or others working for a company and seeking materials related to their employment) may still be be eligible for basic UCSD borrowing priviledges, including access to Circuit.

How do I submit an interlibrary loan request?

Interlibrary loan requests may be placed using a variety of methods which are outlined here.

If you have difficulty using the Citation Linker, please use this form, also indicating at which UCSD library you would like to pick up the material.

What materials are available via ILL?

Books, government publications, dissertations, and other materials which are not owned, missing, or checked out from the UCSD Libraries' collections can be borrowed from other libraries. Journal articles, patents, conference papers and proceedings, standards, technical reports, proceedings, chapters, and other materials which are not owned, missing, or checked out from the UCSD Libraries' collections can be photocopied from other libraries nationwide and around the world, with copies made available to you electronically. Some items such as videos, micro formats and rare books or manuscripts may be available through interlibrary loan on a library-use only basis.

Please note that ILL is intended to support University research, coursework, or UC job-related functions, and not intended for recreational reading.

  • Items not owned or not available at UCSD.
  • Items missing from UCSD’s collections. Before requesting an interlibrary loan for a missing item, check ROGER to see if any other UCSD library has an available copy; if not, request a search at the owning library’s Circulation Desk. Once an item has been placed in search status, you may request it via interlibrary loan.

What items are not available via ILL?

  • Reference Items
  • Items available at UCSD through Course Reserves
  • Items available at UCSD in Microform or other micro formats
  • Slides
  • Other non-circulating items (such as current journal issues)

Requesting of recreational materials is discouraged.

In addition, certain items may be difficult to obtain via interlibrary loan:

  • Videos
  • Dissertations
  • CDs/DVDs
  • Non-circulating items

What is the policy for videos/DVDs?

Video/DVD formats can sometimes be very difficult to obtain, especially under time constraints. Many times, video requests do not get filled because the items are fragile, few copies of the item exist, or items may not circulate. If a Video or DVD is shipped to us under the condition of library-use-only, it will be available for viewing at the Arts Library Service Desk. If no restrictions are placed on the item, we will make it available to you as a regular checkout for the loan period allowed by the lender.