Interlibrary Loan

If we do not have a book or journal articles in our stacks, then you have the option of ordering it as an interlibrary loan.

You can open and top up your interlibrary loan here:

• Service & Information counter at ULB Stadtmitte
• Service & Information counter at ULB Schloss
• Service & Information counter at ULB Lichtwiese

Please note our opening hours .

TU staff can apply for an interlibrary loan account after submitting the Declaration on work related use (opens in new tab) . The fees are then paid by the ULB. TU staff are asked to use the “Top up interlibrary loan account” (opens in new tab) form (only german version) to top up an established interlibrary loan account.

You can check your borrowed media (including interlibrary loans) in your library account. You will find your interlibrary loan credit and the validity period of your interlibrary loan account under “Your interlibrary loan details”.

You can only order media that are not available in the library system of TU Darmstadt. You can then order them online directly after your research via the interlibrary loan portal. The requested literature must be required for professional or scientific purposes as well as for training and further education.

• Media that are available in your library system.
• Literature that is available from book stores for less than 15 euros
• Entire volumes of journals, although copies of individual articles from trade and scientific journals may be ordered.
• Articles from copyrighted newspapers and kiosk magazines
• Reference works and loose-leaf editions, although copies of individual essays may be ordered.
• Particularly valuable works published before 1800, although copies or digital copies can usually be ordered.
• Media in poor condition.
• For commercial users: due to the new copyright law, any copy that comes from a work that is not in the public domain.

If your search in our portal TUfind was not successful, then you can search the interlibrary loan portal and place an interlibrary loan.

If you search all of the German networks (default setting) without finding the work you are looking for, you have the option of placing a “free order”.

You will find the relevant button in the left column once you have logged in. This will open a blank order form for you to enter as much information as you can on the book or article you are looking for.

An online order usually takes about two weeks (not guaranteed). A free order will take longer.

We will inform you as soon as we receive the work you ordered as an interlibrary loan. You will receive an email if we have your email address; otherwise we will notify you in writing.

Interlibrary loans that cannot be lent out will be available to you for reference at the ULB locations Stadtmitte, Schloss and Lichtwiese.

If you are unable to find the medium you want either with us or in another German library, you have the option of requesting an international interlibrary loan. The fee for this is 8.00 euros. You are also obliged to bear any other costs incurred.

You will find further information on charges and costs here.

Extensions are possible on request up to a maximum of three working days before the end of the loan period and are subject to reservations. Please use the corresponding link in your library account to apply or go to interlibrary loan application for extension .

If you do not hear from us, you can usually keep the book for another four weeks. We shall notify you if it is not possible to extend the loan. Please note that you can only extend a loan twice.
You can see your borrowed interlibrary loans in your library account.

The document delivery services from other libraries and commercial delivery services are available if you need the required literature sooner and sent directly to you at the institute or your home.