Payable service reserved to UCL library users (UCL students and staff and registered holders of a UCL library access card).
We expedite your requests for documents (monographs, excerpts, journal articles) which UCL libraries do not hold but are able to borrow from Belgian and foreign libraries and institutions.
1. Verification and research
- Verify that the document is not available in UCL collections via the Libellule catalogue and the digitised file of the former central library.
- Locate the document in the Belgian or foreign library.
2. Request submission
- Choose the UCL library that will expedite your request and provide you with the document.
- Complete either the paper form on site or the online form.
Belgian libraries: twice per week (Tuesday and Thursday), a shuttle delivers requested documents between certain Belgian libraries.
If the document is available, requested documents involving these libraries are generally delivered within three to five working days. The requester will be informed by email of any delays or problems.
Belgian libraries not served by the shuttle deliver by post, generally within one week.
Foreign libraries: Delivery time for requests from foreign libraries cannot be fixed precisely. If possible, the ILL administrator will inform you of the processing time indicated by the supplying library.
The ILL administrator informs you by email of your document’s arrival.
Volume requests
Volumes are to be picked up and service fees paid where indicated in the email. UCL staff can bill ILL fees to a department or faculty. This payment method as well as the account number to be charged must be indicated on the request form.
Article or excerpt requests
These can be provided in print (photocopies) or PDF format. The desired format must be indicated on the request form.
Photocopies: They are to be picked up and service fees paid where indicated in the email. UCL staff can bill ILL fees to a department or faculty. This payment method as well as the account number to be charged must be indicated on the request form.
PDF: the PDF file will be sent to the email address you indicated on the request form. For members of the UCL community, it will be sent automatically to your UCL address.
Service fee payment
You must indicate the payment method on the request form:
In cash: when informing you of the document’s arrival, the ILL administrator will ask you to pay the amount due at the library. After payment is received, the document will be delivered.
On internal invoice for staff members: on the request form specify the entity account number to be charged. The PDF will be sent directly to you once it is received from ILL.
On invoice sent by post to students and external users: €2.50 will be added to the amount to cover billing costs. The PDF will be sent directly to you once it is received from ILL. If the invoice is not paid, the amount will be charged to the library user account.
Consultation period for ordered material
The consultation period is determined by the supplier and communicated to the requester upon receipt of the material.
Consultation of the material takes place on site in the library or wherever the order was made.
The requester must respect lender institution terms and conditions.
Attention: If the ordered material has still not been consulted 48 hours before the end of the loan period, a reminder will be sent. You will be billed order fees whether you consult it or not. In case of non-payment, the ILL fees will be charged to your user account.