Interlibrary loans (ILL)

• To place an ILL request, use the 14-digit barcode number on your WatCard as your "User ID" and your last name in lower-case letters as your "Password" to log into the ILL system.
• Digital scans of chapters or articles can arrive within hours depending on availability. Print items can arrive within three days and most items available from a Canadian library arrive within two weeks. International requests can take longer to obtain.
• Getting books through ILL (video)
• Getting articles through ILL (video)
• Tracking the status of your request (video)
• Fill in blank request form (video)

• Copies: If you requested a copy, you will be sent a web link to an electronic copy, with instructions for retrieving it.
• Loans: You choose which library to use as your pick-up location for Interlibrary loans. You will be notified via email when your Interlibrary loans are ready to pick up.
• Materials can only be picked up by the person who made the original request or someone on his/her behalf that has a written note from the requestor.
• You can always track the status of your ILL request by logging into the ILL system.

• The lending library determines the length of the loan period for items that you borrow through ILL. 
• The lending library may stipulate any further restrictions on the use of material. For example, "in library use only".
• You may be required to pay for the purchase of some documents on a cost-recovery basis. You will always be notified in advance of any charges that may apply.
• Covid update: Items borrowed via Interlibrary loan can be returned at any book return bin on campus or any circulation desk during open hours.

Log-in problems and all other interlibrary loan issues can be reported by phone (519-888-4567, ext. 42598), or email at ill@uwaterloo.ca.

• Getting books through ILL (video)
• Getting articles through ILL (video)
• Tracking the status of your request (video)
• Fill in blank request form (video)
• Frequently asked questions

• Not-for-profit publicly funded institutions can borrow materials from the University of Waterloo libraries through the ILL service. Fill out the ILL system request form to submit your request; free email requests will not be processed.

• Lending to commercial for-profit organizations is limited to print items owned by Waterloo libraries. Charges apply; please email ill@uwaterloo.ca for cost estimates. Commercial borrowers should fill out the ILL system request form; email requests will not be processed.

Codes

• OWTU (National Library)
• UWW (OCLC)
• CaOWtU (NUC)

Loan period

• Books: six weeks to any of the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL); six weeks to the rest of Canada and international

Items not for loan

• Serials, theses, rare books, audiovisual, and newspapers

Charges

Canada; international; Ontario Council of Universities (OCUL); Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec (CREPUQ); Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL); Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries (COPPUL), and Council of Atlantic University Libraries (CAUL)

Contact information

• Mailing address:
  Interlibrary loans
  Dana Porter Library
  University of Waterloo
  200 University Ave. West,
  Waterloo, ON
  Canada N2L 3G1
• Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 42598
• Fax: 519-888-4323
• Email: ill@uwaterloo.ca
  Samantha Gibbon, Manager, Circulation Services: Resource Sharing and Reserves: samantha.gibbon@uwaterloo.ca