Inter-Library Loans

This is a lending service between academic libraries where the item required is not available in any TU Dublin library.

All TU Dublin students and staff may request the loan of books, journal articles, theses and conference papers from other academic libraries in Ireland, the UK and abroad. These may be in print or electronic format.

If you wish to request an Inter-Library Loan follow the steps below:

• Fill out an Inter-Library Loan request form on the library catalogue for the type of item required (book, journal article, technical report, conference proceeding, thesis, book chapter or music score). Please include as much detail as possible about the item and include your staff or student number.
• The library will contact you when the item is ready to be collected. We will also notify you if the item cannot be obtained.
• On collection, you may need to sign a copyright declaration form. Books and theses will be checked out to you for a period of time usually specified by the lending library. Some items may be available for library use only depending on the lending institution.  If the item you requested is a photocopy or an electronic pdf you may keep it.
• Please make sure to return print items by the date requested for return to the lending library.

Before applying for an inter-library loan please make sure the item you require is not available from TU Dublin library in print or electronic form.

If you require assistance contact interlibraryloans@tudublin.ie 

Inter-library loans are usually only available to staff or to students who are engaged in original research related to their work/study at TU Dublin.

You need to have a library record in good standing. If you have billed, lost, or overdue library or inter-library loan books, or if your record is otherwise blocked, you may not use this service until your record is cleared.

Articles usually arrive at the library within a week to ten days. Books may take a little longer depending on availability. Keep this in mind if you have a deadline.

We will contact you as soon as your item arrives. Items are held behind the library desk. Bring your TU Dublin student/staff card and pick up your requested item during opening hours. If the item is not picked up after 3 days and no other arrangements have been made, it will be returned to the lending library and future library privileges may be jeopardised. 

This depends on the lending library. It is usually 2 to 4 weeks. The lending library may recall your item before the due date.

You might be able to keep the item longer than the original due date. Contact the inter-library loans team at interlibraryloans@tudublin.ie before the due date to check whether your loan can be renewed.

Library privileges may be suspended if your inter-library loan is not returned on time.

You must return your inter library loan to a member of staff at the library desk.

It is your responsibility to operate within copyright law (Copyright and Related Rights Act, 2000). Copyright permits only one article request from a journal issue. You will need to sign for requests for journal articles or part works.

We reserve the right to refuse to fill a request if, in our judgement, fulfilment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.

Let us know as soon as possible.

The loss of items that belong to other libraries may result in our library being blocked in the future.

Charges incurred from lost or damaged material are your responsibility. A bill will be issued to you for the replacement cost of the item. Unpaid charges will result in the suspension of your library privileges.

Contact us at interlibraryloans@tudublin.ie if you have any further queries.