- What is an Inter Library Loan (ILL)?
- Who can use the Inter Library Loan service and how much does it cost?
- Before you request an item
- Information you need for your request
- How to request an Inter Library Loan
- Request an article, report, book chapter or conference paper
- Request a thesis
- Request a print book
- Contact the Inter Library Loan team
What is an Inter Library Loan (ILL)?
If the book, journal article, book chapter, conference paper or thesis you need is not available from the University of Hertfordshire Library, our Inter Library Loan (ILL) team will try to get it for you.
We use other libraries and services around the world to provide:
- articles, theses and book chapters, usually supplied electronically as a PDF for you to keep
- print books, borrowed from the British Library and participating UK universities
Print book loan periods are set by the lending library and are usually around four to six weeks.
Who can use the Inter Library Loan service and how much does it cost?
All registered University of Hertfordshire students can request items to support their studies or private research.
Inter Library Loans are free to request. The University pays the cost of the service.
You may be charged the replacement cost of a print book if it is lost, damaged or returned significantly overdue.
Before you request an item
- Check Library Search first. The item you need may already be available from the University's collections.
- If you are requesting a print book, check that your library account is not blocked. We cannot issue an Inter Library Loan book to a blocked account.
If we cannot supply the item you have requested, the ILL team will email you.
Information you need for your request
Providing as much information as possible can help us process your request.
For journal articles:
- Add the DOI if you have it. This can automatically complete parts of the request form.
- Include the journal ISSN. If you do not know it, you can use the ISSN Portal to find it.
For book chapters:
- ISBN
- page numbers
- publication year
If you use the Lean Library browser extension, you can also access the ILL request forms by selecting Order Now when prompted.
How to request an Inter Library Loan
- Log in to StudyNet and select Online Library.
- Go to My Library Account and select Request Items not held at UH. You can also check the status of existing ILL requests here.
- Select + Create a new Request.
Request an article, report, book chapter or conference paper
You will need to confirm the copyright declaration by selecting Yes. Then choose the relevant request type from the drop-down menu.
- Complete as many fields as you can.
- Select Create to submit your request.
- If the item is already available from the University, a link will appear. If the link does not provide what you need, you can still select Create to submit an ILL request.
Depending on availability and the information you provide, you should receive a link or PDF attachment at your personal email address within one to five working days.
Download your item promptly. Links are active for 30 days after you receive them. We recommend renaming the downloaded file so it is easier to find later.
Request a thesis
We can purchase ProQuest theses for you. A link to the thesis PDF is usually emailed to you within a few working days.
You can also search EThOS, the British Library's open-access discovery service for UK doctoral theses.
EThOS contains metadata for more than 650,000 UK doctoral theses. Many records contain an Access thesis from university link, which takes you to the relevant university repository, where the full thesis may be available to download. Search EThOS (E-Theses online service) Online Service)
Request a print book
You can go directly to the print book loan request form. Print book requests do not require a copyright declaration.
- Complete as many fields as you can.
- Select your collection location.
- Tick the relevant box if you want to collect your book from a lower locker.
- Select Create to submit your request.
How long will my book take to arrive?
Books can take up to two weeks to arrive.
You will collect the book from the Collect & Drop Off lockers on the ground floor of your selected LRC.
When the ILL team receives the book, you will receive two messages at your personal email address:
- collection information
- confirmation that the book has been added to your library account
When your book is placed in a locker, a collection code will be sent to your University email address from noreply@mail.onarken.com.
Wait until you receive your collection code before travelling to the LRC.
Books for de Havilland LRC will take a few additional days to transfer from College Lane before you receive your collection code.
Collecting your book
The Collect & Drop Off lockers are available 24/7, except during published LRC closures.
Library staff cannot access the lockers for you, but may be able to help if you have your collection code or physical UH ID card.
Due dates and extensions
Your return date is shown:
- in your library account
- on the slip inside the book
Collect your book promptly so you get the maximum available loan period.
Extensions are at the discretion of the lending library and may result in an additional charge to the University.
Returning your book
Return your book to one of the black Book Return Boxes in the College Lane or de Havilland LRC.
You will receive an email and UH Mobile app notification when Library staff have removed the book from your account. This may happen the following day.
Please return borrowed books on time.
If you cannot return a book by its due date, contact the ILL team. We may be able to extend the loan period.
Reference-only books
Occasionally, another library may lend an item for reference-only use.
If this happens, we will email you to check that you can visit the LRC. You can only use the book inside the LRC during staffed hours, 10:00 to 17:30, except on Bank Holidays and during seasonal closures.
Collect the book from the Welcome Desk at the campus LRC you selected on your request form. You will need to show your ID card and return the book to the Welcome Desk by 17:30 on the same day.
Contact the Inter Library Loan team
The ILL team's email address is shown at the bottom of the ILL request page.
If you contact the team about an existing request, include your request ID number if available.
You can also contact the Helpdesk:
- Email: helpdesk@herts.ac.uk
- Phone: +44 (0)1707 284678
- On campus: use an Information Point phone on any floor at College Lane or de Havilland LRC