If you need a book, chapter or article that isn't held by a University of Bristol Library, we can usually obtain it for you from another institution.  

About the service 

• The inter-library loan service is free for University of Bristol staff and students (costs are covered by Library Services).  

• We are unable to borrow eBooks as an inter-library loan. If you request an e-Book the request will be cancelled. 

• We are unable to request items as an inter-library loan that the University of Bristol already holds in any format.  

• If you urgently require a resource or need to request multiple items, please contact your Subject Librarian to discuss your requirements first. 

If you have any further queries regarding inter-library loans, please contact bris-ill@bristol.ac.uk 

Making an inter-library loan request 

Before you start 

Please check Library Search to ensure that we don't already provide access to the material you require. 

We also hold lots of material in databases: A-Z Databases (libguides.com) 

Placing a request 

There are two ways to make a request: 

Manual form completion: 

• Click on the Request form and log in as a University of Bristol Library user. 

• Select:  Article or Book or chapter at the top of the screen. 

• Complete the Item details and Request details sections of the form. 

• Please select LOAN if you require an of entire book in print, or COPY if you require an electronic copy of one chapter of a book 

•  Then click Submit Request. 

Automatic form completion: 

• Find your item in Library Search, using the Libraries Worldwide option. 

• Click on the item title and you will see the 'Please get this item for me’ button on the right-hand side.  

• The item details are automatically entered by Library Search; you just need to add the final elements:  

• The chapter or article details 

• If you are requesting a book, the library you would like to collect it from 

• Any additional information 

• Accept the copyright declaration 

If UoB hold the book or any part of the journal you want to request, the 'please get this for me button' will not be available.  

How long will it take for my request to arrive? 

The time required to fulfil your request will depend on the format of the item, how easy it is to source, and demand on the service.  

• For example, an article that is readily available in electronic format may be supplied to you within a few working days; print items (or chapter/article scans sourced from print items) will take longer. This is particularly the case during busy periods. 

You will not receive a confirmation email when you make an ILL request. But you can check on the progress of your request by logging in to your Library account. 

If you would like to cancel your request, please contact bris-ill@bristol.ac.uk 

How long can I keep it? 

Loans are usually for 4-6 weeks, with the possibility of renewal. 

Most items supplied in physical formats may be available as a loan for home use but are sometimes confined to the library at the request of the supplier. 

To request a renewal, please contact bris-ill@bristol.ac.uk in advance. ILL books cannot be renewed via your library account. 

• Please retain the book until you receive a reply from the Inter-Library Loans team. 

• Renewals should be requested before placing another ILL request. Duplicate requests will be cancelled. 

If you think that you will need a particular resource for longer than this, please contact your subject librarian to discuss alternative ways of accessing it.