INTERLIBRARY BORROWING SERVICE (510) 642-7365 HOURS: Mon - Fri: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. NUC Code: CU OCLC Code: CUY

The Interlibrary Borrowing Service (IBS) supports the instructional and research needs of UC Berkeley's students, faculty and staff by obtaining materials which are not available at UC Berkeley libraries. IBS is one of the largest and most sophisticated library resource-sharing operations in the country. IBS belongs to major library networks and utilizes several computerized systems to acquire materials from libraries throughout the United States and the world.

CONTENTS

• Eligibility
• How To Use The Interlibrary Borrowing Service
• Submitting Requests
• How Long Does It Take
• Special Conditions
• Loan Periods
• Materials Generally Not Available Through Interlibrary Loan
• Special Charges
• Loss/Damage

The service is available free of charge to UC Berkeley faculty, students, and staff. Other patrons with current UC Berkeley library cards are encouraged to use their public library's interlibrary loan service. Service is not transferable, and proxy borrowers must have proxy borrowers cards. If you have questions about eligibility, inquire at the Main Library Privileges Desk or at the Interlibrary Services Office, 133 Doe Library.

Check OskiCat (UC Berkeley s online catalog) to make sure UC Berkeley does not own the material you want. IBS cannot process requests for materials which UC Berkeley owns.  If you need help using our catalogs, inquire at the Reference Center on the second floor of the Main Library or at the Reference Desk at any subject specialty library.

Provide a full and accurate bibliographic citation, including author, title, place and date of publication, and series. Provide a printout (e.g., MELVYL, UC system-wide online catalog) of the citation whenever possible.

To verify a book citation use:

MELVYL Online Catalog

National Union Catalog

WCAT (WorldCat)

To verify a serial citation use:

MELVYL Online Catalog

Union List of Serials

New Serials Titles

WCAT (WorldCat)

To verify a dissertation citation use:

Dissertation Abstracts

Comprehensive Dissertation Index

WCAT (WorldCat)

MELVYL Online Catalog

Reference staff can help you with these, or suggest other sources as appropriate. If you cannot find the item you need in the suggested sources, provide us with a photocopy of your reference (typically the title page and the page including the citation).

1. Berkeley Faculty, Students, and Staff may request items found through the Melvyl catalog by using the request feature on that system. Periodical article requests may be made through E-links in the various electronic abstract and indexing databases.


2. Berkeley Faculty, Students and Staff may submit requests electronically by clicking on the request form button below to order an item.


Request Form
3. Requests may be made in person at the Interlibrary Borrowing Office (133 Doe) where staff can advise you about your request. Requests may also be submitted at the reference desk of most Subject Specialty Libraries.
   
   Pick up and return items through IBS at the IBS office, room 133 Doe Library. An after-hours book return is available outside Room 133.


4. BAKER users can submit requests to IBS through the Baker service.  BAKER is a fee-based document delivery and bibliographic verification service. BAKER delivers materials to your campus address. For further information about this service, email baker@library.berkeley.edu or call 642-2538.
   

On the average, allow two weeks from the date of request. If the material is readily available in a library with which IBS has a special arrangement, it may be available sooner. If IBS has to go to more than one location for the material, it will take longer.

The lending library may impose special conditions on use, such as library use only, for use in the Bancroft Library, non-renewable, or user's signature required. Conditions are noted on the IBS band attached to the book. When you accept the loan, you are obliged to honor these conditions.

The lending library sets the loan period which may range from two to four weeks. IBS materials are subject to recall by the lending library at any time. Please return recalled items immediately. Overdue materials jeopardize our ability to borrow. Materials cannot be borrowed for class reserve, exhibit, or other long-term use.

Some libraries have categories of materials which are not available on Interlibrary Loan. Examples are: rare, fragile, or unique materials; audiovisual material; some dissertations; whole volumes of recent periodicals; and items in special collections.

In some cases facsimile copies exist (usually microfilm) and these may be sent on Interlibrary Loan. The UC Berkeley Library has arrangements with a number of libraries which provide access to some of these restricted materials. You will be advised of such general limitations when you submit your request.

All efforts are made to borrow without add-on costs for photocopying. In a few cases, IBS may be able to fill a request only by using a source which charges for photocopies. In these instances, photocopy charges (usually several dollars) will be passed on to you. When IBS is apprised of this in advance, IBS will try to notify you and get your approval for such charges.

You, the borrower, are financially responsible for any damage to or loss of interlibrary materials, from the time you pick them up until you return them to the IBS Office. You are also responsible for damage caused by photocopying, even if no specific photocopy restrictions are noted on the material. Should any damage occur, report it to IBS. Do not attempt to repair it yourself.