Are there restrictions on Interlibrary loan requests?

Answer

Interlibrary loan (ILL) services are subject to restrictions based on material type, copyright regulations, and item availability.

Some Restrictions on ILL Requests

  • Item Limitations: Rare, fragile, or archival materials, as well as software, audiovisual materials, reference books, and textbooks, are frequently ineligible for interlibrary loan.
  • Copyright and Legal Restrictions: Copyright guidelines generally limit the number of articles that may be requested from a single journal issue or title within a specified period. Requests that exceed these limits may be denied.
  • Usage Restrictions: Borrowed materials may be restricted to in-library use only, depending on the library’s lending policies.
  • Availability: KU Libraries typically does not request items already held in our collections unless the item is lost, damaged, checked out, or otherwise unavailable.
  • Loan Periods and Recall: Loan periods vary by the lending institution. Lending libraries may recall items at any time.

Policies and Fees

  • Fees: ILL services are free for KU patrons.
  • Penalties: Overdue, lost, or damaged ILL items may result in fines, replacement charges.
  • Request Limits: KU Libraries does not set a limit on the number of requests patrons may submit.

What Can Be Requested Through Interlibrary Loan (ILL) can be found here: https://ref.lib.ku.edu/faq/439683

  • Last Updated Mar 27, 2026
  • Views 5
  • Answered By Reference Specialist

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