Inter-Library Loans Service
We participate in the British Library Document Supply Service for loans and photocopies of items.
The Library participates in the British Library Document Supply Service and handles requests for loans and photocopies of items. Consult the Library Catalogue or email ials@sas.ac.uk to check on specific material held at the Institute Library. Please note that the IALS library is mainly a Reference library. It is not possible to lend books from our open shelves but we may be able to lend an older book or a previous edition of a book or scan a copy of one chapter or 5% of the book. These can be identified on the catalogue by their Depository classmarks e.g. Depository 25671. We do not lend volumes of Law Reports, Legislation, or Journals.
Please note that all book loans will be sent by recorded delivery to protect our books in the post. It is a condition of the loan that our books must also be returned by recorded delivery. The books loaned may only be used within your library.
IALS can only satisfy ILL requests from academic and public libraries or government departments.
Information for Inter-Library Loan Departments
Please supply a request number, together with your British Library Billing Account number. IALS has adopted the charges recommended by the British Library. These are currently £11.70 for a scan and £18.85 for a book loan (effective from 01 August 2024). We will usually inform you in advance if the charge will be higher for any reason. Email requests should be sent to ials@sas.ac.uk
IALS will normally supply the document within a few days or contact you if we are unable to assist you for any reason. Please contact IALS again if you do not receive any response within 1-2 weeks.
Information for Individual Students or Tutors
Please approach your local college or university library inter-library loans department with details of your request. They will submit a British Library request on your behalf directly to IALS. A charge may be made by your library. Please refer also to the Document Supply Service for Academic Researchers as an alternative method of obtaining a copy from IALS.
If the item is held and available at the IALS Library, a photocopy of the relevant article or chapter will be supplied at the earliest opportunity. Please note that all requests are subject to copyright regulations.
Commercial organisations should refer to our Document Delivery for Subscribing Practitioners.