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 login to the ILL system
• 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 (ILL). 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.

Login 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 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 from the TriUniversity Group of Libraries (TUG) catalogue with some exceptions. 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) with no renewals. Three 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 loan
  Porter Library
  University of Waterloo
  200 University Ave. West,
  Waterloo, ON
  Canada N2L 3G1
• Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 42598
• Fax: 519-888-4323
• E-mail: ill@uwaterloo.ca
  Samantha Gibbon, Manager, Circulation Services: Resource Sharing and Reserves                   samantha.gibbon@uwaterloo.ca