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Borrowing Guidelines

Borrow from other Libraries (Interlibrary Loan)

TRU students, faculty, and staff can borrow material from other libraries via interlibrary loan. NOTE: Alumni and community users can access interlibrary loan services through their local public library.

To request an interlibrary loan:

  • You will need your TRU ID and Library PIN.
  • Most PINs are set, by default, to the account holder's birthday: YYMMDD.
  • If your PIN does not work, contact the library by email at library@tru.ca to have it reset.

Please read before requesting and interlibrary loan via the button below:

  1. Use your TRU ID and Library PIN to log on to the form.
  2. Under “Add Request” on the left-hand side of the screen, click on the type of item you would like to request (e.g., book, article).
  3. Fill out the required information (* denotes a required field). 
  4. Select the “This item is requested solely for use …” check box.
  5. Click "Submit". 

Request an Interlibrary Loan

 

What can I borrow via interlibrary loan?

The Library can obtain the following types of materials for you via interlibrary loan: 

  • Books (excluding textbooks) 
  • Copies of journal/magazine/newspaper articles 
  • Microform/microfiche 
  • Theses and dissertations 
  • Conference proceedings 
  • Items officially declared missing from the TRU Library collection 

Please Note: The interlibrary loan service supports research, employment, and course work at TRU. Please place requests for personal reading materials with your local public library. 

Restrictions

  • Requests for articles/book chapters required in less than 4 business days will be cancelled.  
  • Requests for books or videos required in less than 7 business days will be cancelled.  
  • TRU will pay a maximum of $25 per item per interlibrary loan. 
  • ILL requests are subject to the University's Fair Dealing Policy. Material provided through Interlibrary Loan must be used solely by the requestor for the purpose of private study, research, criticism, or review. TRU Interlibrary Loan Services cannot order the following: 
    • more than one article from the same issue of a journal
    • copies that comprise more than 10% of a published work
    • textbooks

How do I find theses & dissertations to request? 

Please see the Library guide Theses & Dissertations.

Where do I pick up my item(s)?

  • Kamloops students: The locker number identified in the email you received when the item is ready for pickup.
  • Williams Lake students: Library Information Desk
  • Distance, Regional & Open Learning students: Item(s) will be sent to you according to your selected delivery method (i.e., courier or pick up in person).
  • Kamloops Faculty: The locker number identified in the email you received when the item is ready for pickup.
  • Williams Lake Faculty: Please see the notification email you receive when the item has been shipped or is ready for pickup.

Where do I return items?

  • Kamloops Campus: During open hours, please return items to one of two book drops inside House of Learning Library (1st or 3rd floor), or, if the Library is closed, to the book drop located outside at the southeast corner of the building. 
  • Williams Lake Campus:During Library open hours, please return items to the Library Information Desk, or, if the Library is closed, to the book drop outside the Student Services Offices. 
  • Distance, Regional & Open Learning: If the item was sent to you by post, please use the included prepaid return label to ship back to House of Learning Library.

Interlibrary Loan: Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to use my TRU email? 

All official TRU Library notices (i.e., due date reminders, hold notices, interlibrary loan "request" and "available" confirmations, etc.) are sent to TRU email accounts. It is your responsibility to check your TRU account regularly for library notices OR set up your TRU email account to forward messages automatically to the email account of your choice. 

Why was my interlibrary loan request cancelled?

Your request may have been cancelled for any of the following reasons:

  • the item is needed in less than 4 days (articles/book chapters) or 7 days (books)
  • the item is checked out to someone else: in this case, please click “Request this item”.
  • TRU Library could not locate the item at another library 
  • the information in the request is incorrect or incomplete
  • the item is intended to be placed, or is currently on reserve as a Course Reading
  • the request is for a type of material TRU Library does not borrow via interlibrary loan. These include: 
    • items already existing in TRU Library collections
    • textbooks 
    • entire volumes or issues of a journal or magazine 
    • reference works 
    • sound recordings 
    • rare, valuable, or fragile items 

What happens if I lose or damage interlibrary loan material? 

You are responsible for paying any replacement charges and/or processing fees levied by the lending library. 

What happens if I receive a "recall" on my interlibrary loan? 

If the lending library recalls material before the assigned due date, TRU Library will notify you about the new due date.

What are the fines for overdue interlibrary loan material? 

$2.00 per day per item

NOTE: TRU Library borrows material from other libraries on your behalf. If materials are returned late, you will be subject to fines and may lose your borrowing privileges.

Interlibrary Loans: Information for Other Libraries 

How to make an ILL request

Log into Relais using your institutional login and password. Please contact TRU Library Interlibrary Loans at ill@tru.ca to receive an institutional login and password. 

Items available for loan: 

  • books 
  • microfilm/microfiche (between May 1 and August 30 only) 
  • government documents 

Items available for copy/scan: 

  • periodical articles 
  • book chapters 
  • reference materials 
  • copies from microfilm/microfiche

Items NOT available for loan:

  • maps 
  • reference materials 
  • Course Readings materials 
  • sound recordings 
  • special collections 
  • video recordings 
  • software 

Submitting Requests 

  • OCLC: CN5CF 
  • LAC: BKCC 

Please submit via: 

  • ISO ILL protocol messages (contact us at ill@tru.ca for details) 
  • Generic Script email 
  • OCLC (IFM billing) 
  • Relais Institutional form (contact us at ill@tru.ca to create an account) 

Please note: We do not provide rush service.

Fees

For Profit Libraries (i.e. Corporate Libraries)

  • copies: $25.00
  • loans: $25.00

Not for Profit Libraries within Canada (does not apply to BC public libraries or to libraries within the BC-ELN, COPPUL, OCUL, BCI, and CAUL-CBUA consortial networks)

  • copies: $10.00
  • loans: $10.00

Not for Profit Libraries outside Canada 

  • Copies: $15.00
  • Loans: $15.00

Borrowing at Other Libraries: COPPUL & CPSLD

Through the Library's memberships in COPPUL (Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries) and CPSLD (Council of Post-Secondary Library Directors), TRU Library participates in a reciprocal borrowing program that allows current TRU faculty, staff, and students to borrow materials directly from all academic libraries that participate in the program. 

Which libraries participate in the Reciprocal Borrowing Program?

For a complete list of participating libraries, see CPSLD Website: Reciprocal Borrowing and CURBA Participating Libraries.

What do I need to borrow from other institutions? 

If you are visiting a CPSLD library, present your valid TRU Campus ID card or proof of registration at TRU.  

If you are visiting a COPPUL/CURBA library, you will need to obtain a COPPUL card from TRU Library before you can borrow material from a CURBA library. The card serves as your introduction to other libraries. You will need to present your COPPUL Card and your TRU Campus ID card (or proof of registration/employment at TRU) at the Circulation Desk of the library you wish to use, and they will issue you a borrowing card for use at their library. The lending library may have restrictions on the types of materials and/or the number of items you can borrow. Each library has its own lending policies: please contact the relevant library before visiting.

Who is eligible to apply for a COPPUL Card? 

Currently registered TRU students, Faculty, and staff with TRU library accounts in good standing.

How do I apply for a COPPUL Card? 

Please contact the Library Reference Help Desk at your TRU campus to check for eligibility and request a COPPUL card. Open Learning, distance & regional students: contact TRU Library.

What happens when I present my COPPUL card and/or TRU Campus ID Card to the other library? 

The library may issue you a library card or an account number. Each library has its own policies and procedures. It is a good idea to telephone the other library before going. 

What if I'm visiting several COPPUL/CURBA or CPSLD libraries? 

You can use the same COPPUL Card at each library that you visit.

Can I access the other libraries' online databases from TRU or my home? 

No, the reciprocal loan program does not allow for remote access to another institution's licensed databases. It is up to the library you are visiting to determine if you can access the databases while you are visiting their campus.

What happens if I lose library materials or return them late? 

You are responsible for all fines incurred by the library you are visiting. If your account at the TRU Library or another CURBA/CPSLD library becomes delinquent, your reciprocal borrowing (i.e., CURBA) privileges will be suspended.

Where do I return library materials? 

You can return items directly to the CURBA/CPSLD library that you borrowed them from, or drop your books off at TRU Library. Please make sure to give TRU Library enough time to ship materials through Canada Post. For example, if your books are due on Saturday, please return them to TRU Library by Monday, at the latest. TRU Library is not responsible for any fines incurred due to shipping delays, strikes, statutory holidays, etc.