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Interlibrary Loan

You can use an interlibrary loan to borrow media from other libraries that are not in the ULB collection. In order to do this, you must be in possession of an Athene or ULB card and need to set up an interlibrary loan account.

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.

After every submission of an interlibrary loan order, your interlibrary loan account will immediately be debited, see: Charges and costs. Please be sure to pay a sufficient amount at the “Service & Information” counter first.

Details of the interlibrary loan account

You can check your borrowed media (including interlibrary loans) in your Library account. To log in, please enter your library card number and password. A link will take you to the interlibrary loan system, where you can view the amount available for interlibrary loans (“Balance of interlibrary loan account”) and check the validity of your interlibrary loan account.

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. It is a condition that the desired literature is required for professional or scientific purposes as well as for training and further education.

Not provided as interlibrary loans

  • Media that are available in your library system.
  • Literature that is available in book stores for less than 15 euros, as in this case it would cost more to process the interlibrary loan than to purchase the book.
  • 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 articles 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.

Placing an order

If your search in TUfind was not successful, you can click on the “Interlibrary loan” link located beneath the message. Your search query will be forwarded directly to the interlibrary loan portal.

Of course, you can also search directly in the Interlibrary loan portal. After registration, you can start your search via the predefined search mask and, when you find the required work, order it immediately online.

If you do a search of all the German networks (default setting) without finding the work you are looking for, you can place a “Free order”. You will find the relevant button in the left column when you log 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 (this information is for guidance only). A free order will take a little longer.

We will inform you by email as soon as we receive the work you ordered as an interlibrary loan.

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

International interlibrary loans

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.

Charges and costs

You will find further information on Charges and costs here.

Extensions

You can see your borrowed interlibrary loans and Extend the loan period in your library account.

Further information

If you have any further questions, please contact our interlibrary loan information office on 06151 16-76251 or 16-76252, or email .