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Library Loan Guide

Complutense Library Loan Help Guide

What is Interlibrary Loan?

The Interlibrary Loan service aims to provide UCM members with documents in any medium that are not in the library and that meet their information and research needs. At the same time, it facilitates access to the University's collections to other external institutions. This is a service between libraries and not between individuals, and therefore the library always acts as an intermediary.

I'm UCM patron: service registration application

I'm UCM user

The interlibrary loan service is aimed at the entire university community except for non-UCM users (UCM Alumni and other groups), users enrolled in the University's affiliated centres, and occasional users.

From 06.09.2021 the service will be provided to undergraduate students (and similar users) under the following conditions:

  • A monthly limit of 5 requests is established.
  • It is not necessary to present the endorsement of a teacher or the approval of the director of the faculty library.
  • To access the service, simply fill in the application form.

If you are a UCM user and need to contact the interlibrary loan service, please contact your library.

I'm UCM patron: apply for a document

In order to use the service you must be registered in the interlibrary loan database. The library staff will check that you meet the requirements for using the service.

  • If this is the first time you are accessing the service, request registration using the corresponding form.
  • If you are already registered, apply for documents.

I'm UCM user: apply for a document

With few exceptions, you can apply for:

  • Books -or non-book material- which can be borrowed.
  • Copies or scans of book chapters and journal articles.
  • Complete digitisations of documents: the conditions of supply will be determined by the supplying library.
Other materials may be excluded from the interlibrary loan service at the discretion of the supplying library.

I'm UCM user: apply for a document

  • Books will be collected from the library that has processed the user's request.
  • The duration of the loan and the type of consultation will depend on the guidelines set by the supplying libraries. In some cases, consultation in the library will be compulsory.
  • Paper copies will be collected from the library that processed the user's request.
  • Photocopies received electronically will be forwarded via a secure method by e-mail to the user's account.
  • The timescales for receipt of documents are variable and will depend on the speed of processing by the requesting and supplying library and postal services.

I'm UCM user: apply for a document

  • Documents obtained through the interlibrary loan service are for study and research purposes only.
  • Their use is for personal use only and the user is responsible for complying with the stipulations of intellectual property legislation on the right to private copying.
  • The provisions of use established by the supplying libraries for each material must be complied with. The user undertakes to comply with the terms and conditions of the loan.

I'm UCM user: apply for a document

  • Prior consultation at Cisne browser is recommended in order to check that the item is not in our collection.
  • The library reserves the right to limit the number of requests per user when deemed necessary.
  • For undergraduate students (and similar users) there is a limit of 5 free monthly requests (from 06.09.2021).

I'm UCM user: apply for a document

  • In most cases, interlibrary loan is not a free service, although its cost is assumed by the Complutense University and is not passed on to the user. Hence the need to request only those documents that are really essential.
  • The Library reserves the right to limit the number of requests per user when it considers it necessary.
  • In the case of reproductions whose costs exceed the rates established for the interlibrary loan service (for example, digitisations of old collections), the library will not assume the costs derived from this transaction. It may act as an intermediary, providing the user with the contact details for locating the document.

I'm UCM user: apply for a document

I'm an external institution

Libraries and research centres outside the UCM that need access to our library's collections.

I'm a external institution: apply for a document

  • If you are a library or institution and it is the first time you access, please request registration through the form. Requests from individuals will not be accepted.
  • If you are a library or institution and you are already registered, please apply for a document.
  • Requests received by email will also be handled, but we strongly recommend using the web form.
  • If you are a library that belongs to WorldCat you can process requests through WS ILL or Tipasa. Our institution code is "S9M".

I'm a external institution: apply for a document

With few exceptions, you can apply for:

  • Books - or non-book material - which can be borrowed
  • Copies or scans of book chapters and journal articles.
  • Complete digitisations of documents: the conditions of supply will be determined by the supplying library
Very frequently used manuals, reference works or any other material normally excluded from home lending are excluded from the interlibrary loan service. Nor will the digitisation of complete issues of journals be carried out.

I'm a external institution: apply for a document

  • The books lent by the UCM interlibrary loan service to external centres are for consultation in the reading room.
  • The stipulated loan periods will be respected. In case of need, loan renewal may be requested.
  • Copies of journal articles and book chapters will be sent to the requesting library electronically via a secure method.

I'm a external institution: apply for a document

  • Documents obtained through the interlibrary loan service are for study and research purposes only.
  • Their use is for personal use only. The receiving library shall be responsible for informing the user to comply with the provisions of intellectual property legislation on the right to private copying.
  • The receiving library shall ensure that the user complies with the lending conditions and deadlines set by the providing library.

I'm a external institution: apply for a document

The following materials are excluded from the UCM interlibrary loan service:

  • reference works,
  • antiquarian collection,
  • some materials which, due to their special characteristics, can only be consulted in the reading room,
  • digitisations of complete issues or journals are also excluded.

I'm a external institution: apply for a document

  • The interlibrary loan service applies, at national level, the Rebiun fees except in cases where reciprocal free loan agreements have been established.

I'm a external institution: apply for a document

More information