Can't find it at UBL
If an item is not available at Leiden University Libraries (UBL), you can try and obtain it directly from another library, request it using ILL services, or suggest items for purchase.
Borrowing at another library
A personal library card at another library enables you to use or borrow items on the spot. Please make sure to inquire beforehand about the specific options at the library of your choice.
At most Dutch university libraries, Leiden University students and staff can obtain a library card free of charge. 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.
Using interlibrary loan services (ILL)
ULCN (library) account holders can use Leiden University Libraries' ILL services, using the WorldCat request options. ILL comes with a fee; please find more information below.
Articles and book chapters from Dutch libraries will usually be delivered in digital format, books can be borrowed from one of our library locations. E-books and audiovisual materials (regardless of format) are generally excluded from ILL services.
Placing an ILL requests using WorldCat
Visit WorldCat using this Leiden University proxylink. When outside of the University network, please sign in using your ULCN-account. In case the proxylink does not work for you, please contact our ILL team by email.
- Use the search options to find the publication you are looking for
- If you have trouble locating an article, we suggest searching for the publication title instead
- At 'Find a copy at a library', use the 'Print book' filter option
- 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
- State your regular Leiden University / library account username at the field 'Username'
- When requesting an article or book chapter, please provide as much data as possible, including year/volume, issue, exact pages
ILL article delivery
Articles and book chapters, when provided by Dutch libraries, 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.
Articles from libraries abroad will be delivered in paper format.
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; delivery from abroad may take longer.
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, according to WorldCat, a publication is not held by any Dutch library, the WorldCat ILL request form will offer the option to choose to agree to the fees and conditions for international ILL, and order the item from abroad.
Delivery from abroad may take up to several weeks. Requests for items that can be purchased online for a reasonable fee, will not be processed.
In case you would encounter any issue trying to request an item from abroad, please contact our international ILL team.
Placing an ILL request entails a payment obligation. ILL materials will be kept available at the desk for 2 weeks; in case they are not picked up, the requester's payment obligation remains.
No payment is due if the request cannot be fulfilled.
| 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 specific interlibrary loan service with its focus on Asian collections. The service is offered by the German Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin and the Heidelberg University Library. All loanable holdings of the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin can be requested through this service, and all materials in South Asian languages can be ordered from the South Asia Institute of Heidelberg University. All Blauer Leihverkehr requests are free of charge.
To request an item, please fill out the Blauer Leihverkehr request form. The items will be sent to the University Library. You will receive a notification as soon as an item is ready for pick-up. The loan period for these items is 4 months.
For any questions about this service, please contact us by email.
LUMC staff may submit ILL book or article requests using the Walaeus Library ILL request form.
Please contact the Walaeus Library in case of any questions regarding the Walaeus Library ILL services and procedures.
Purchase suggestions?
The UBL welcomes suggestions from Leiden University and LUMC staff and students regarding the purchase of books, databases and audiovisual materials.
Library materials purchase suggestions