Request service

The inter-library loan service is free to all users. 

Articles and chapters are usually supplied electronically by email as a link or email attachment.

If you have requested a book we will send you an email when it has arrived at your pick-up library stating it is available to collect and how long it will be kept for you. Items that are not collected by this date will be returned to the supplying library and the request completed. You can normally borrow inter-library loans for six weeks, but this can vary depending on the supplying library or if it is recalled for another reader.

Theses, and occasionally other items too, are supplied on a library-use only basis which means you will have to consult the item in the Library. It will be kept for you at the Hub for the duration of the loan period and will be available at any time during staffed hours. You may not remove it from the Library.

If we do not have either an online or print copy of the book you need in any of our libraries, we may be able to get it for you through our regional and national document supply network. 

To make an inter-library loan request, go to Find a Reference and select Article, Book or Journal. Fill in the form with as much detail as possible, when you click submit you will be prompted to sign in for more options, once signed in you may place an inter-library loan request. You can find more information on inter-library loan requests at the link below.

Links and files

All suggestions will be considered. However out of print titles and subscription type requests (for example journals, magazines and databases) will be ineligible for consideration under this service. 

We would appreciate as much information as you can supply, but at least the following as a minimum:

• Author
• Title
• ISBN
• Publisher
• Date of publication

All requests must be submitted using the Digitisation Request form.

The form must be completed accurately, allowing sufficient time for copyright clearance if necessary.

All requests must include the following information:

• Bibliographic details of the book chapter or journal article
• Module code
• Module title
• Number of students on the module
• Date range required for during the academic year.

Please note: An incomplete form may lead to delays in processing your request.

If the material falls outside of the scope of the Copyright Licensing Agency Higher Education Licence, we will have to apply for copyright clearance. We can do this by:

• Applying directly to the publishers
• Using a third party copyright clearance agency

Once the request details have been submitted, we then have to wait for permission to be granted, which can take six weeks or longer. There may be costs involved and if a cost is prohibitive we will contact you to discuss substituting less expensive articles where possible.

Please note: Some extracts over 50 pages may be refused due to publishers' restrictions.

If the permission fee is acceptable and the copyright clearance is granted we will scan the material and make it available as above.

Where copyright clearance is not granted to digitise the material, it may be possible to deposit a print version in the library for reference use. Should this occur, we will contact you to discuss your options.

Academics may request chapters or articles to be digitised and made available to students via Canvas or reading lists to support teaching and learning under the terms of the Copyright Licensing Agency Higher Education Licence.

The Digital Scanning Service facilitates these requests ensuring the licence terms and conditions are adhered to, including:

• Designated staff scanning texts
• Copyright compliance
• Ensuring secure authentication
• Maintaining records for Copyright Licensing Agency audit purposes