Making a Request

If the item you require is not available, please make a request following these steps.

1. Complete the online Inter-Library Loan request form. To complete this you will need to be signed into your university account.
2. Include all details about the item you want to request, making sure they are as accurate as possible. The fields which you need to fill in will vary according to whether the item you are requesting is a book, a journal article or proceedings from a conference. You may be able to cut and paste the text from your source of reference to help with this. When requesting an item you have found in an index or database, please check that the article is in English.
3. We encourage everyone to submit requests using the online form. This helps us to process requests more quickly and speeds up delivery times. If you require an alternative format of the Inter-Library Loan request form please contact ILLTeam@bolton.ac.uk. 
4. Please ensure you tick the copyright declaration box: this is a legal requirement. The copyright declaration requires you to confirm that photocopied items will only be used for private study or for research for a non-commercial purpose. Please see the section on commercial use if you feel your request constitutes commercial copying.
5. Once your ILL request has been submitted, please contact ILLTeam@bolton.ac.uk for updates.

How many requests can I make?

There is a limit of 10 requests per student per academic year. If requesting multiple print items please bear in mind that they are likely to arrive at the same time, making it difficult for you to consult them all within the specific loan period.

Please note that while we work with the British Library's interim ILL system, the below information may not be accurate. As we gain a view of how long the process takes with the new system, we will update accordingly.

Journal articles

Articles requested by Secure Electronic Delivery from the British Library are usually sent via email within three working days. Please note that there may be a delay processing requests during busy periods.

Print copies usually take longer to arrive (for this reason we would recommend the SED option, as you can make a print copy once you have received the email link). 

For more information see our Secure Electronic Delivery guide

Books

Books normally take longer to arrive. You can usually borrow them for five weeks. You will be notified on your university email account when items have arrived. They can be collected from the Library Desk during staffed hours. We will also notify you of any problems or delays with ILL requests via your university email.