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Interlibrary Requests

 

The ILR service supports your research by obtaining materials not held in the University Library.

• Placing a request
  1. Check Availability: Check Library Search before requesting to ensure the item is not already in stock or available electronically
  2. Submit Request: Click on the 'Place an Interlibrary Request' box at the top of this page. Sign in with your Sussex username and password.
  3. Select Form: Choose the Book Request form for a book, book chapter or conference proceedings or the Article Request form for a journal article or conference papers.
  4. Fill in Details: Provide the full bibliographic details to speed up your request. 
  5. Copyright Declaration: Read and agree to the terms by ticking the check box before submitting your request. 
• Interlibrary Request limits
  • Undergraduates - 20 requests per year
  • Postgraduate, Staff & Faculty - 50 requests per year 
  • Associates - 5 requests per year

  Limits run from 1st September - 31st August. Once the annual limit has been reached requests will be charged at the full rate of £18.00 for a loan and £12.00 for a photocopy. 

• Charges and loan periods
  • UK Requests: Free up to annual limit (£18 for a physical loan / £12 for a photocopy thereafter).
  • International Requests: £20 for a physical loan / £10 for a photocopy 
  • Non-University related work: £18 for a physical loan / £12 for a photocopy
  • Renewals: £4 per renewal
  • Late Fees: 50p per day, up to £10.00 per item. Failure to return within seven days of notice results in a £214.30 charge.
  • Public Members: £18 (for use in the Library only). 
  • Most Interlibrary Requests are supplied to us by the British Library Document Supply Centre within a week. We will notify you by email if there is likely to be a delay obtaining an item. 
• Additional Services

  : Access to UK doctoral theses. Contact us for non-digitised copies. 

  Systematic Reviews: Inform the Research Support team for support and flexibility with ILRs. 

• British Library Articles

  For articles from the British Library, we use Secure Electronic Delivery to your Sussex email, unless you request a paper copy. If desktop delivery isn't possible, we will email the article.

  For more information and troubleshooting, visit our British Library Articles page.

Frequently asked questions

• How many items can I request?

  Interlibrary Requests within the UK are free up to the following limits per year (September 1st - August 31st):

  • Undergraduates: 20 requests

  • Postgraduates, academic and research staff: 50 requests

  • Associate members of staff: 5 requests

  There are charges for obtaining a loan or photocopy of an article from abroad. Details are on our Charges and Loan Periods page. Once the annual limit is reached, requests are charged at £18.00 for a loan and £12.00 for a photocopy.

• How long does it take?

  • Articles: Up to three working days, depending on delivery method. It may take longer if we cannot source from the British Library.

  • Loans: Usually within ten working days if from the British Library, or two weeks if from another university library.

• How can I check the progress of my request?

  Log into you Library Account and select 'requests'. 

• Can interlibrary requests be renewed online? 

  No, as items are on loan from another library with different lending periods. Contact Interlibrary Requests a few days before the due date to see if renewal is possible. Renewals are usually granted unless the item is recalled.

  • Phone: 01273 678162

  • Email: library.interlib@sussex.ac.uk

  The renewal charge is £4

• What are the fines on overdue interlibrary loans?

  • Overdue fines: 50p per day, up to £10 per item.

  • Lost item charge: £214.30 if more than three weeks overdue.
• Are there any copyright restrictions when requestiing copies of materials?

  Yes, the following restrictions apply:

  • Only one article from a journal issue.

  • Only one chapter from a book.

  • Copies can be used only for research for a non-commercial purpose or private study.

  • Copies cannot be supplied to another person.

  • The material should not have been supplied to you previously.

  • No other person with whom you work or study should have requested substantially the same material for the same purpose.

• Are there any materials that are difficult to get through the interlibrary request service? 

  Some materials are harder to obtain, such as:

  • Pre-1890 publications

  • Copies of print theses

  • Material held in special collections and archives

  • Material in high demand

  If this applies, we will contact you with available options.

  Access to Theses: UK and Abroad

  Many doctoral theses are available in full-text online through services like EThOS for UK theses and Proquest Dissertations and Theses for North American theses (1997 onwards). Some UK doctoral theses are available to lend in hard copy if not available on EThOS. Pre-2001 North American theses may be available on microfilm or microfiche from the British Library Document Supply Centre. Some UK research libraries may also hold copies of North American doctoral theses in print and may be willing to lend.

   For more details, see our Library Guide for access to