Search UB website

You are here: UB › Access and use › Interlibrary loan

Interlibrary loan (ILL)

If a book or periodical is not available from the collection of the KU Leuven, one can request it through the interlibrary loan service. The user should first try to find out in which library the publication he/she is looking for is available.

    NOTE:
  • Interlibrary loan is not for free. More information about the rules and tariffs can be found on the websites or at the ILL service of your library.
  • External library users cannot use the KU Leuven ILL facilities.
  • ILL is not possible between libraries from the city campus (Arts & Humanities and the Central Library).

ILL: procedure for requesting items (books/articles)


Items of non-KU Leuven libraries found in LIMO (LIBISnet libraries)

  1. Search for the desired document in Limo
  2. If you found the document but it appears to be unavailable at KU Leuven (see tab "Locations"), then click on "Request in another library" in the "Details" tab
  3. Sign in. In the notice screen click on "Continue anyway" when you have checked that the document is not available at K.U.Leuven
  4. The request form appears with some of your details already filled in.
    • Check if at least the obligatory fields are correct
    • Specifiy whether you want the whole document or just part of it (article/chapter)
    • Indicate how you want it delivered
    • Agree with the applicable rules.
  5. Your request will be handled by our ILL services
  6. After receipt of a notification letter or e-mail you can pick up the requested documents or copies at the ILL central of your library.

Items of non-KU Leuven libraries found in other catalogues

  1. Consult the union catalogue of Belgian libraries (UniCat) or the overview of most relevant catalogues in Belgium and abroadPdf file.
  2. If you found the document, note down all necessary information to make a successfull request (name of the library + shelf number of the item).
  3. Sign in in Limo ("Sign in" on the top right).
  4. In your account information ("My Account" on the top right) you can find a "Requests" tab where you can click on "Create a free ill-request".
  5. The request form appears.
    • In the correct tab ("Book" or "Journal/Serial") at least fill in the obligatory fiels
    • Specifiy whether you want the whole document or just part of it (article/chapter)
    • Indicate how you want it delivered
    • Agree with the applicable rules.
  6. Your request will be handled by our ILL services
  7. After receipt of a notification letter or e-mail you can pick up the requested documents or copies at the ILL central of your library.

When requesting periodical articles keep in mind that:

  • In most cases periodicals can not be borrowed; often you will receive photocopies of the article.
  • For each article you want to request you need to use a seperate request form.
  • Avoid abbreviations in the title of the periodical that you are requesting.

When requesting books keep in mind that:

  • Not every publication can be borrowed (e.g. items from the reading room, serials, publications with a loose-leaf system, valuable and precious prints, newspapers, atlas,...)
  • The lending library determines the loan period; they also can impose the consultation of the requested work in the reading room of the requesting library.
  • When the loan period is not observed costs for claiming will be charged, if necessary followed by additional sanctions.
  • When requesting e-books keep in mind that: there will never be sent a copy of the entire book, only from sections (a chapter or a few pages).