Frequently Asked Questions

Why hasn't my request been processed yet?

More often than not a request has been held up because either the application form has not been completed fully or we have not received a signed copyright declaration.

When requesting journal articles bear in mind that it is against Copyright Law to photocopy more than 1 article per part. Ask for a loan of the part containing the articles instead.

I've submitted my request. What happens now?

If a photocopy can satisfy your request it will be posted to you for your retention. Loan items are held at library service desks and you will be notified once the item is available for collection. Occasionally items are loaned to us on the condition that they are consulted only within the library and not for home use. Under no circumstances can we break this rule.

If there is a problem obtaining the item (e.g. the British Library require the source of your reference) then we will contact you as soon as possible. We send out regular reports on the progress of your requests and keep you informed of any progress.

How long does it take?

Most requests are satisfied within 8-10 days though we cannot guarantee this. Photocopies from mainstream journals can arrive within days. Older, more obscure material can take much longer, as do items that are ordered from abroad.

How long can I keep the item?

Items from the British Library are sent on loan from 3 to 6 weeks. British Library loan periods are the same for all classes of material: i.e. 3 weeks guaranteed loan from the date of issue, plus an extra 3 weeks' automatic extension if no one else requests the item during this period, i.e. 6 weeks. Other libraries will set their own borrowing period but most will usually give a minimum of a month. All items are subject to recall by the lending library.

Return of loans

Please return all items that you receive on loan promptly. This is particularly important because we rely on the goodwill of other libraries to lend us material. If you have any problems in returning your loan please contact us immediately. If you fail to return an item on time there is a danger that you could be charged. The British Library will bill us £110 for a replacement copy if items are excessively overdue. Even if the item is returned at a later date the administrative part of the fee (£60) will not be refunded. It is our policy to pass this charge on to the borrower.

Renewals

It may be possible to renew a loan. The current charge for this is £3.00. There is no guarantee that we will get the item renewed but in most cases we will. If you do find that you will need more time please contact us at least 3 days in advance of the return date.

Urgent Action

A same day response service is available from the British Library. If requests for photocopies are received before 2.30 pm and the British Library hold the title, a faxed reply should arrive before 6 pm. This is an expensive service. A list of current charges is available.

Electronic journal articles

If you are requesting an article from a journal that's available electronically please be aware that libraries holding electronic versions may not be permitted to provide copies to other libraries or individuals due to licensing restrictions. Restrictions regarding article supply via inter library loan services vary between journal publishers.

Helpful information and useful links

It may be quicker or more economical to visit other libraries in the local area rather than using the Inter Library Loan service.
The Robert Gordon University Library covers a wide range of subjects and disciplines. It also provides electronic access to the holdings of numerous local libraries that are members of the Grampian Information network.

Zetoc is a large multidisciplinary database containing contents pages of 20,000 journals and details of 16,000 conferences per year.

Copac is a union catalogue that provides free access to the merged online catalogues of many major University, Specialist, and National Libraries in the UK and Ireland, including the British Library.