Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery Service

Current La Trobe University (LTU) students and staff can request items from some external (non-LTU) libraries thanks to our Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery Service (ILDDS).

Items that can be requested

Scanned copies

All current LTU students/staff can request copies of book chapters and journal articles from external libraries and, if you're eligible for remote delivery, from the LTU Library. Scanned copies of these items (within copyright restrictions) will be emailed to you once the request has been processed.

Physical items

You can also request some physical items (e.g. books) from external libraries, which can be delivered and held for you at your local campus library or, if you're eligible for remote delivery, can even be posted directly to you.

Requesting an item

  • Select Document Delivery from the main menu.
    Note: If you're requesting a physical item, try searching the Library collections for it first. If it's listed but isn't held in LTU Library's collection, you should be able to select a Document delivery link in its 'Get it' section. This will display the same form as selecting the main menu item but some details will be pre-filled.

  • Fill out the form with as much detail as you can provide and submit your request.
    Note: If you are requesting book chapters or a journal article, these will be emailed as digital copies regardless of the format or pick-up location selected in the form.

  • You will receive an email when your item is ready for collection from the Request shelf (also known as the Hold shelf) at the campus library you specified in your initial request.
    Note: The email will also inform you how long the item will be held for you. If you are unsure of the location of the Request shelf, please contact the Library or ask a staff member.

  • The item must be returned to the Library by its due date.

Services for other libraries

For libraries registered through Libraries Australia, we can supply you with most items from our collection, including LTU theses.

Note: We're unable to process email requests from individuals – please ask your library to make a request on your behalf.

FAQs

The Australian Copyright Act governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.

Under the Act, libraries are authorised to supply a copy as long as the copy is not used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship or research and that the amount that is copied is in accordance with copying limits laid down by the Act.

The limits are as follows:

  • One journal article per issue of a periodical, two or more articles per issue if those articles are on exactly the same subject.
  • One book chapter or 10 per cent of the book as long as that 10 per cent does not cover two whole chapters.

Note: The Library reserves the right to refuse to accept a request for a copy if it believes that fulfilling the request would involve violation of the copyright law.

For further copyright information, please refer to the Copyright Hub.

Copies of book chapters or journal articles are usually received in 2-7 days.

Physical items are usually received in 1-2 weeks, unless they are arriving from overseas, in which case it usually takes 2-4 weeks.

Note: If the item is already on loan, in storage or missing from a library, there may be additional delays.

You can view (or cancel) any requests you have made in the 'Requests' section of My Account.

The library that supplied the item assigns the loan period. This ranges from 2-8 weeks.

The email notifying you that the item is ready to be collected will also state its loan period.

Renewing loans from external libraries

If you need the item for a longer period, you must request a renewal before its due date.

To request a renewal, please email the ILDDS team and provide your name, LTU student/staff number, book title and its current due date.

Note: Not all libraries grant loan renewals. The ILDDS team will liaise with the external library and advise you by email whether the loan was successfully renewed.

You can return borrowed Library items to any LTU campus library by dropping the items in the returns chute.

If you're at our Melbourne (City) campus, please use the returns box at the reception desk on Level 2.

Note: You can also post items back to the Library.