Interlibrary Loan
If you need an academic book or article, which is not available in a library in Munich, you can use our interlibrary loan service.
Interlibrary loan (ILL) is a service for requesting academic books and journal articles which cannot be acquired from the HM Library, university libraries or any state library in Munich.
Copies are usually delivered in PDF form, a corresponding download link will be sent by e-mail. In some cases and for licensing reasons, delivery is only permitted in paper form, which will be made available at the circulation desk. The copies can be collected during service hours.
In the majority of cases, e-books cannot be supplied via interlibrary loan, as the licence agreements between the publisher and the library do not usually permit this.
Request via online catalogue:
- Enter your terms in the search fields and start the search
- The search results will display the "Order via interlibrary loan" button if the title is not available in Munich
- Log in with your library user number and password
- In the "Interlibrary Loan Request" form select your desired pick-up location (Central Library, Karlstraße Branch Library, Pasing Branch Library)
Couldn't find it?
Even if you cannot find the title in online catalogue, you can send the request.
From the 'no matches found' page, under Interlibrary Loan, select the interlibrary loan link.
After selecting a library to collect the item from and logging in, fill out the form. Interlibrary Loan staff will continue the search outside of Bayern and forward your request.
- Book requests within Germany are usually delivered at no cost
- Photocopy Fee:
- up to 40 pages 1,50€
- 41 - 60 pages 6,-€
- 61 - 80 pages 8,-€
- above 80 pages, increase accordingly
- Orders from libraries outside of Germany may use different rates
What type of materials can I request?
- Books that are not available for borrowing in state owned Munich libraries
- Journal articles and book chapters, when sending copies is possible
What type of materials cannot be requested?
- Materials available in a bookstore and worth under 15,-€
- Materials which impart simple or purely practical knowledge
- Valuable, old works
- Also included are 'in demand' books, loose pages materials, books in big format, reference items, expensive materials which cannot be borrowed, DIN-Normen, patent specifications, videos and record LPs
How long do I need to wait for the interlibrary loan to arrive?
Books: generally, 2-3 weeks.
Copies: a few days
How do I know when my request has arrived?
An email is sent to your email account when the item is ready to collect. If you are a student or staff of University it is sent to your HM account. if you are a guest user, it is sent to the email address provided on the registration form. Please check your e-mail inbox.
Where do I collect my interlibrary loan?
The book or copy is held at the HM Library you had designated in your request. The information is also included in the notification email.
For copies, you will receive a download link by e-mail. In some cases, only a paper copy will be delivered; this will be available at your branch library.
In both cases, a fee of €1.50 is payable. This will be charged to your library account and you can pay it either on site at the self-service checkout using your EC card or by bank transfer.
How long can I keep the interlibrary loan?
Generally, 4 weeks. In some cases, the owning library might issue a shorter period, and it should be adhered to or you may incur an overdue fine. Make sure to read the information attached to the item.
Copies are intended to be kept.
Can I extend (renew) the interlibrary loan date?
If interlibrary loans can be renewed, it will also be done automatically. Renewals of interlibrary loans that have already been carried out can be revoked at any time if the lending library requests the return of the item. You will then have 5 days to return it.
What should I do if I lose the plastic pouch that is attached to the interlibrary loan?
Attached to each interlibrary loan is a sturdy plastic pouch that holds important information about the loan. In the pouch, there is a Transponder-Chip to help with borrowing the item and a paper receipt listing information about the particular item. If the interlibrary loan item is returned without the Transponder-Chip plastic pouch, you are charged a 5,-€ fee.
What can I do if the item I need in not available in Germany?
When the item is not available in Germany, it is possible to send an interlibrary loan request internationally. The time it takes for the item to arrive can be considerably long, and the cost expensive.