Library

Lending for Other Libraries and Organizations

Interlibrary loan and Scan on Demand is a service through which outside libraries and organizations can request to obtain books and articles from the Brandeis Library.

Request Methods

The Brandeis Library uses an interoperable platform that allows us to take in requests from other libraries regardless of your local platform. We use RapidILL (including returnables), so Rapid is always a great choice for sending requests. For libraries that do not use Rapid, we can connect using an ISO standard where files containing request details are passed between the systems to facilitate the communication and continual updating of requests. If you’re interested in partnering with the Brandeis Library and setting up this connection, please email ill@library.brandeis.edu and we will be happy to test the connection with you before deployment. Our Z39.50/Alma availability info as well as our ISO info are listed below. Brandeis cannot receive requests via OCLC.

Availability Checks

Costs

  • Articles or book chapters: No charge
  • Physical materials: No charge for North American libraries (United States, Canada, Mexico), $30 USD or 2.5 IFLA vouchers for all other international libraries. We accept checks, credit cards, and IFLA vouchers. IFLA vouchers may be returned with the book.

Loans will be made as staff time and work volume permit. If we expect a loan to take more than a few days to fill, we will contact the borrowing library with an estimated timeline.

Eligible Materials

We are happy to lend most circulating materials including, but not limited to, books, theses, dissertations, and microfilm. In most cases, we cannot lend non-circulating materials, which include bound or current serials, special collection materials, original newspapers, rare or archival materials, and any item that is in poor or fragile condition. Depending on circumstances, we may request that items are available only via digital fulfillment or library use only. Contact the University Archives and Special Collections for more information regarding access to items that are held in that location.

Length of Loans

Our standard loan period is 16 weeks with no renewals. We only recall items when absolutely necessary for course reserves or when we are unable to borrow a different copy of an assigned reading for a local patron.  We are open to different arrangements depending on the circumstances with other libraries; however, this is our default.

Shipping

Our standard methods for shipping include the Massachusetts State Delivery Service and UPS. Borrowing libraries are encouraged to return materials by a trackable service. Borrowing libraries will be responsible for replacing materials lost in transit without confirmation of delivery to Brandeis.

Accessibility

When providing digital articles and chapters, our standard practice is to OCR all documents.

Right to Reject Requests

There are a variety of reasons we may need to cancel or reject a particular request. These reasons include the following:

  • For scans of book chapters, if the request exceeds a portion of the work that can be justified under fair use principles
  • Items may be lost or missing
  • Items may not be in a condition where they can be reasonably shipped or scanned