Can't find it at UBL
If an item is not available at Leiden University Libraries (UBL), you can borrow materials directly from another library, request a book loan or article delivery through interlibrary loan, or suggest items for purchase.
Borrowing at another library
Leiden University students and staff can apply for a library card free of charge at all Dutch university libraries (this does not apply to universities of applied sciences/HBO). The KB, the National Library of the Netherlands, offers a 50% discount to university students.
Please make sure to carry a valid means of ID, and your student card, if applicable, when visiting the library of your choice to have a library card made.
Using interlibrary loan services (ILL)
ULCN (library) account holders can use Leiden University Libraries' ILL services, using the WorldCat request options. For our ILL fees, please see below.
ILL requests using WorldCat
Visit WorldCat using this Leiden University proxylink. When outside of the University network, please sign in using your ULCN-account.
- Use the search options to find the publication you are looking for
- At 'Find a copy at a library', use the 'print book' filter option. E-books cannot be requested using ILL services
- At 'Access from your libraries', click 'View access options'
- Next, at 'Request this item via interlibrary loan', click 'Access' and fill in the ILL request form. At the field asking for 'Username', please fill in your regular Leiden University / library account logon name
ILL article delivery
Articles and book chapters will be delivered in digital format. As soon as a document is made available, you will be sent an email containing an access link and password. Articles will be available for a 30 day period and may be accessed up to 5 times.
ILL book delivery
Books requested via ILL can be picked up at the library location specified in your request. Delivery times for ILL within the Netherlands usually range from a week to ten days. You will be notified by email as soon as an item is ready.
A valid LU-Card is needed to be able to borrow books. For all ILL and regular loans, the UBL circulation policies apply.
If a publication is not held by any Dutch library, you may ask the UBL to try and request it through international ILL. Delivery times depend largely on where the item is located, and on libraries' willingness to lend. WorldCat will give an overview of worldwide library holdings and item policies.
Many items can be purchased online, for a reasonable fee. Requests for such publications will not be handled by the UBL.
| ILL fees within the Netherlands | ||
|---|---|---|
| Book | € 13 | Pin or credit card payment at the desk, upon delivery |
| Article or book chapter |
€ 6,50 | Payable by invoice |
| International ILL fees | ||
|---|---|---|
| Book loan | € 26 |
Pin or credit card payment |
| Article or book chapter |
1-10 pages: € 13,00; every extra page: + € 1,30 |
|
The Blauer Leihverkehr is a special interlibrary loan service offered for the East Asian collections of the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin and the South Asian collections of the Heidelberg University Library. Materials in the East, South, Southeast and Central Asian languages from these collections can be requested without cost through the service.
Patrons who wish to use this service can request materials directly from these libraries using the Blauer Leihverkehr request form.
Requested material will be sent to the Leiden University Library. You will receive a notification when the material is ready for you to pick up at the University Library information desk. The loan period for the borrowed items is 1 year.
For any questions about this service, please contact us by email.
LUMC staff can submit ILL book or article requests using the Walaeus Library ILL request form.
Please contact the Walaeus Library if you should have any questions regarding the Walaeus Library ILL services and procedures.
Purchase suggestions?
The UBL welcomes suggestions from Leiden University staff and students regarding the purchase of books, journals, databases, videos, and other materials currently not held by the library.
Library materials purchase suggestion