Information for other libraries
Overseas libraries: please click here
The Inter-Library Loans Department welcomes requests from Libraries within the UK and Republic of Ireland. We also handle requests for many
Departmental and Faculty Libraries within the University of Cambridge.
However, requests for the Medical Library (CA/M-7) and the Central Science Library (CA/U-2) should be sent directly to them.
The Central Science Library also handles all requests for the Betty and Gordon Moore Library.
We accept requests by e-mail, mail and telephone. Payment is made by British Library billing account so please remember to include in your request your account no. and a request/reference number.
From August 2012, our standard charges are as follows:
- Copy of an article / chapter: £7.50 (+VAT)
- Loan: £11.60
Priority service
We can dispatch Priority Service items within 24 hours of a request being received. Our charges are as follows:
- Copy of an article / chapter: £11.50 (+VAT)
- Loan - posted same day: £16.00
We normally ask you to send an e-mail request, but please phone first as our staff will be able to advise whether or not we will be able to fulfil your request. Please mark all Priority Service requests with *PRIORITY* in either the subject bar or amongst the references.
Lending policy
Cambridge University Library offers a six week loan period from the date of dispatch, but all items are subject to recall if required by a Cambridge user. All loans are strictly "for use in library only", but in most cases copying is permitted if undertaken by a member of library staff and adhere's to UK Copyright Law. Copying permissions are easily identified by our coloured wrapper - Green for 'yes' - Red for 'no'.
We are also happy to offer renewals at no extra charge, providing the item has not been recalled. Please contact us by email if a renewal is required.
We lend a considerable percentage of our holdings except:
- Pre-1900 books in Rare Books classes (although we may be able to provide a photocopy if the item is out of copyright)
- British books published within the last five years received under legal deposit
- Books in reference classes
- Unsuitably bound items (spiral bound, ring-binder, loose-leaf, etc.)
- Manuscripts
- Special collections
- Cambridge Theses*
- Newspapers
In addition,
- We are unable to photocopy articles from journals received under legal deposit which have been published within the last two years
* Individuals may be able to purchase a copy of a Cambridge Thesis by contacting the Imaging Services Department, who will provide an estimate of costs.
Copyright fee paid items
We are unable to accept direct requests for Copyright Fee Paid items. Please send these requests to the British Library Document Supply Centre. For libraries using BLDSS, requests for Copyright Fee Paid items that you wish for the British Library to source on your behalf should be made using the 'BACKUP, SW or WWS' message key codes. For customers who are not yet deployed to BLDSS, please continue to use the 'stock and location search (SL)' stating that Cambridge holds this item. BLDSC will then forward the request on to us.
Speculative requests
We are happy to accept speculative requests. Not all our holdings are listed on our Online Catalogue. There are various printed catalogues still in use, e.g. pre-1978 supplementary material, Official Publications, pamphlets. There are also many books still waiting to be catalogued. Therefore, if you require a book not listed, please still apply as we may be able to help.
Contact Us
Our contact details are as follows:
Inter-Library Loans
Cambridge University Library
West Road
Cambridge CB4 9DR
Telephone: +44 (0) 1223 333039 / 333080
Fax: +44 (0) 1223 339710
All e-mail requests should be sent to ill@lib.cam.ac.uk.