Interlending is a service that can be used to obtain books and articles that are not available at the home library, from national and international libraries. If the item you need to get hold of is not in our library catalogue, electronic journals A-Z list, Google or Google Scholar, you can request the item from another South African or international library.
A2: Who qualifies for interlibrary loan?
Registered library users qualify
Undergraduate students (1-3 year): request from branch libraries and CSIR library.
Post graduate students (4th year, honours, Masters & PhD students). International documents can be requested if permission and cost codes have been obtained from their departments.
UP personnel. International documents can be requested if permission and cost codes have been obtained from their departments.
A3: Who may not use interlibrary loan?
Retired staff
Tuks Alumni
External users of the UPLS
Day visitors
Students and staff from other institutions ( they must submit their requests to their home libraries)
A4: How do I register for interlibrary loan?
Current, registered UP Staff and students are automatically registered for ILL.
A5: How do I submit requests?
Prior to requesting items from other libraries, please first check for availability of the item in:
It depends from where we get the documents. Articles sent electronically are mostly here within 1-3 days. Books sent by South African National Library Courier Services (Gauteng province) take a maximum of 5 days. Books from CSIR and UP branch libraries take a maximum of 2 days. Books & articles sent by post from other libraries outside Gauteng province take 2-3 weeks. Books from overseas libraries take 4-5 weeks. It does however depend on the availability of the book.
A8: Will I have to pay for documents requested via Interlending?
National interlibrary loan services are free to all users who qualify for the services. For International requests, charges may apply and departments are responsible for payment of documents received.
A9: Will I have to pay a fine on an interlending item that is overdue?
A10: Will I have to pay a fine if I don't collect my requested documents?
A fee of R 10, 00 per item will be charged for interlending documents not collected. It is the responsibility of users to contact the interlending staff, or to check their request file if they have not received a pick up notice after a reasonable time.
A11: Which material may not be requested through ILL?
Audiovisual material should not be requested nor do we lend it to other libraries
Fiction and children’s books are not to be requested on interlending
Reserved and reference materials
A whole journal
A12: How do I know if the book or article has arrived?
Articles received electronically will be dispatched electronically to user’s e-mail address. Clients will also be notified by e-mail if books have arrived.
A13: How do I collect & return interlibrary loan books?
Books are collected at the Access and Lending desk on level 3. Staff or student card must be produced to check-out books to patrons.
Return: books must be returned to the Access and Lending desk on level 3. Books will be checked in on the system.
A14: How do I renew books?
The renewal of ILL material depends on the restrictions set by the lending library. If you want to renew, you must contact the responsible ILL officer or email interlending@up.ac.za at least three working days before the material is due.
A15: What happens if I lose an interlibrary loan book?
The user is responsible to pay an amount equal to the price of the book plus R100 admin fee
Uncooperative clients will be blacklisted.
A16: What are your business hours?
The Interlibrary loans office is open from 07:30-16:00 on: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday and from 08:30-16:00 on Tuesday.
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