Interlending & Document Supply
Interlending and Document Supply (IDS) helps Lancaster University readers access information resources not available in our library. Material required for taught courses should be in our stock; if there are books and articles on your reading list which are not listed in the library catalogue, please contact your Subject Librarian. Members of Lancaster University do not pay for routine IDS requests. However, as IDS requests are charged to the library's materials budget, use of the service is restricted.
Who can use the service?
- Undergraduates We expect undergraduates to choose dissertation topics which use resources already available through our library. Any undergraduates who do need IDS must contact their Subject Librarian to arrange to use the service.
- Taught postgraduates have an annual limit of 10 requests. Additional requests may be permitted; please contact your Subject Librarian.
- Research postgraduates have an annual limit of 25 requests. Additional requests may be permitted; please contact your Subject Librarian.
- Members of staff have an annual limit of 25 requests. Additional requests may be permitted; please contact your Subject Librarian.
- Retired members of staff may continue to use IDS, with the agreement of their departments.
- Associate borrowers may use the service but must pay a charge of £10 per request. Readers who live locally usually prefer to use the Lancashire County Library service which charges 60p for a request, or to go through their own college or place of work.
What can be got through Interlending and Document Supply?
Books, journal articles, chapters from books, conference papers, music scores, patents, standards, reports, whole issues of journals. We can provide a lot of foreign-language material too. We sometimes get books, theses and articles from libraries abroad.
What can't Interlending and Document Supply get?
We don't deal with unpublished documents and archives. Expensive market reports are seldom available on loan. Books published before 1900, maps, DVDs and videos can be tricky. Please come and talk to us about what you need and we will be happy to advise.
We do not apply for books and journals which are in stock at Lancaster University Library, unless they are officially missing.
How do I make a request?
IDS requests are made online. Go to the library catalogue, where one of the options at the top of the screen is IDS request. Click there and log on to the library system.
Please fill in your application form as fully and accurately as possible. Read and accept the copyright declaration form by ticking in the acceptance box. Please do this even if you have applied for a book, as sometimes the document you require might be supplied as a copy.
Articles from the British Library are supplied electronically. Please read the section on Secure Electronic Delivery (SED) for more information on this service.
Copyright
Detailed guidance on copyright law is available in our Library Copyright Guide. Most copying for members of the university is covered by Library Privilege. This applies when you need the photocopy for your private study and research, and for a non-commercial purpose. The main points to note are:
- We can request a copy of only one article in each issue of a journal. If you need to see more than one article in an issue, we will try to borrow the whole issue for you. If we cannot borrow the issue for you, it may be possible to have more than one article copied, if you pay a copyright fee to the publisher. Interlending staff can give you more information.
- If you need a photocopy for a commercial purpose (broadly defined) separate rules apply. The Library Copyright Guide gives further information on what constitutes a "commercial purpose".
Copyright Fee Paid copies
Copies sent to Lancaster University staff and students made under "Library Privilege" may not be further copied, stored electronically, or used for commercial purposes. However, readers whose needs are not met by Library Privilege copies may pay an additional copyright fee to the publisher. This is normally between £5 and £20 per article. The library can arrange for a "Copyright Fee Paid copy" to be sent to you, but you or your department must bear the full cost. If journal articles are required for the Short Loan collection, the library will order them "Copyright Fee Paid".
Addresses
Journal articles and chapters from books are usually supplied by the British Library electronically (SED). They are sent to your lancaster.ac.uk email address. SED is available only for material provided by the British Library.
If copies come from other libaries, they will be delivered to IDS. We will email you when the article has arrived. You then collect it from the library, or ask us to send it on to your department. We can also mail it to any address you choose.
Books are delivered to IDS and must be collected from the library.
How long will it take?
Most journal articles come within a week and most books within two weeks, but we can make no guarantees about delivery time. If you tell us a request is urgent we will do our best to meet your deadlines. You can check on the progress of your request through "My Library Account".
Collecting an item
Books, theses and other documents that come on loan have to be collected from IDS or the Enquiry Desk. We will contact you when your document has come in and tell you when it is due for return. Your IDS loans can be checked in "My Library Account", but do not count towards your borrowing allocation for loans from our library.
Library use only
Some libraries lend us books and theses for reference use only. This means that they may not be taken out of this library, not even to your office or department. You may use this material only at times when the library service desks are open.
Renewals
Renewals may be possible, but as the library is charged for most renewals we ask you to finish using the book before its due date. If you do still need the book, contact us. Items borrowed through IDS may be renewed up to 4 times, provided the supplying library agrees. After that, the book must be returned. If you still need to use it, please speak to your Subject Librarian.
Recalls, late returns and lost books
Sometimes a library needs a book back early. We will recall the book from you and allow you at least a week to return it. Otherwise, we will contact you when your books are due. Please return the books or request a renewal.
This library does not fine readers for the late return of IDS books, but we will pass on to you any charges levied on us for the late return of books, or for items that go missing. In the case of books or journals borrowed from the British Library, the minimum charge for a lost item is £129.50 plus VAT.
Can I take the book abroad?
Material borrowed from another library must not be taken abroad, as it may be recalled at any time for another reader.
Difficulty in obtaining material
If we have problems in getting the documents you need, we will contact you. If we ask for additional information, please reply promptly. If we do not hear from you, your request will be cancelled.
Where does it come from?
Most journal articles come from the British Library or Cambridge University Library. The British Library Document Supply Centre is a good source of books, but the British Library in London (St Pancras) does not lend any British books at all.
We use a variety of libraries, preferring those that are most likely to lend us books for home reading, to provide a rapid service, and not cost too much.
Interlending and Document Supply services to readers who live a long way from Lancaster
Journal articles, and chapters from books, can be sent to Lancaster University staff and students anywhere in the UK or abroad. Books have to be collected from IDS. Students on placement and those registered for designated Distance Learning courses should consult Services to Distance Learners for more information about the services the University Library offers.
Using Other Libraries
For information on visiting and using other libraries, see Using Other Libraries.
Opening hours
IDS is open Monday to Friday from when the library opens until 5pm. At other times ask at the main Enquiries Desk.
Contacting Interlending and Document Supply
Interlending and Document Supply
Lancaster University Library
Lancaster
LA1 4YH
Email: ill@lancaster.ac.uk
Phone: 01524 593303
Fax: 01524 65719
For librarians
Information for libraries wishing to borrow from Lancaster University Library.