Interlibrary loans (ILL)

University of À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ students, faculty, staff, and retirees may use Interlibrary loanÌý(ILL) to request materials, not owned by UÀ¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ Libraries, from another library free of charge.

Place an interlibrary loan (ILL) request

  • To place an ILL request, log into using your WatIAM credentials.
  • .

Receiving materials

  • Digital scans of chapters or articles can arrive within hours depending on availability. Print items can arrive within three days and most items available from a Canadian library arrive within two weeks. International requests can take longer to obtain.
  • Copies: If you requested a copy, you will be sent a web link to an electronic copy, with instructions for retrieving it.
  • Loans: You choose which library to use as your pick-up location for Interlibrary loans. You will be notified via email when your Interlibrary loans are ready to pick up.
  • Materials can only be picked up by the person who made the original request or someone on his/her behalf that has a written note from the requestor.
  • You can always track the status of your ILL request by logging into .

Borrowing period and return

  • The lending library determines the length of the loan period for items that you borrow through ILL.
  • The lending library may stipulate any further restrictions on the use of material. For example, "in library use only".
  • You may be required to pay for the purchase of some documents on a cost-recovery basis. You will always be notified in advance of any charges that may apply.
  • Items borrowed via Interlibrary loan must be returned to any circulation desk during open hours.

Contact us

All interlibrary loan issues can be reported by phone (519-888-4567, ext. 42598) or email at ill@uwaterloo.ca.

Helpful resources

Lending policies for external institutions

  • Not-for-profit publicly funded institutions can borrow materials from the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ libraries through the ILL service. Fill out the request form to submit your request; free email requests will not be processed.

  • Lending to commercial for-profit organizations is limited to print items owned by À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ libraries. Charges apply;Ìýplease email ill@uwaterloo.ca for cost estimates. Commercial borrowers should fill out the request form; email requests will not be processed.

Codes

  • OWTU (National Library)
  • UWW ()
  • CaOWtU (NUC)

Loan period

  • Books: six weeks to any of the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL); six weeks to the rest of Canada and international

Items not for loan

  • Serials, theses, rare books, audiovisual, and newspapers

Charges

Canada; international; Ontario Council of Universities (OCUL); Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec (CREPUQ); Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL); Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries (COPPUL), and Council of Atlantic University Libraries (CAUL)

Ìý Canada International OCUL; CREPUQ; CARL; COPPUL, and CAUL
Books $10 $20 no charge
Photocopy $10 $20 no charge
Rush service

no extra charges

Maps charges and availability vary
Replacement fee $69 - $144

Contact information

  • Mailing address:
    Interlibrary loans
    Dana Porter Library
    University of À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ
    200 University Ave. West,
    À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ, ON
    Canada N2L 3G1
  • Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 42598
  • Fax: 519-888-4323
  • Email: ill@uwaterloo.ca
    Sarah Martin, Manager, Resource Sharing & Reserves: s3martin@uwaterloo.ca