Interlibrary Loan Lending Policy

The following policies are in place for other libraries requesting items from UH Libraries through interlibrary loan, either via direct loan or by scanning.

Please send questions or special cases to

UH Libraries Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
713-743-9720
ill@uh.edu

OCLC symbol: TXH
DOCLINE LIBID: TXUUTO

Making requests

All requests must be placed via OCLC or using ILLiad Lending. UH Libraries does not accept requests via email, telephone, or fax.

First time users of ILLiad Lending must request an account.

New account requests are usually processed within 1 business day. Account information will be sent to the email address provided.

Shipping

Shipments are made via US Postal Service, Trans Amigos Express, or UPS. Shipments are made only to the address associated with a lending account.

International loans are shipped via US Postal Service International mail. International loans must be returned by air mail and insured for $75 USD.

UH Libraries cannot ship via FedEx.

Formats

Eligible for lending

  • Books, unless reserve, rare, or in poor condition
  • Dissertations and theses
  • Periodicals
    • Lent on a case-by-case basis
    • A bound volume may be lent to substitute scan requests exceeding 75 pages
  • Microforms and microfiche
  • US documents since 1957
  • Texas state documents since 1964
  • DVDs, VHS, CDs and other audiovisual materials

Not eligible for lending

Loan periods

Loan periods are 8 weeks or 12 weeks for Greater Western Library Alliance (GWLA) affiliates. Items are subject to recall.

Renewals

Generally, loans are not renewable. Contact ILL for special circumstances.

Response time

Every attempt will be made to mail books and transmit scans within one working day of receipt of request.

Rush requests

UH Libraries does not accept rush requests via OCLC. Every effort is made to respond to all requests within 1 business day. For special circumstances, please contact ILL before submitting a request.

Charges

Loans
Free to non-profit institutions
$25 per title to for-profit institutions

Scans
Free to non-profit institutions
$25 per article to for-profit institutions

Replacement charge
A lost item is replaced with the item’s full cost plus a $25 processing fee.

Refunds
If a lost item for which ILL has been paid is returned in good condition within six months, a refund check will be issued minus a $25 processing fee ($25 fee does not apply to GWLA or TexShare members).

Billing
UH Libraries is an OCLC IFM participant. Non-IFM participants will be invoiced.

IFLA Vouchers are accepted.

Credit cards are not accepted. Postage stamps are not accepted as payment.

Resends

Resends may be requested when pages are missing, image quality is poor, or there is another problem in delivery. UH Libraries will supply as many resends as needed to correct mistakes. Contact ILL directly to request a resend.

If a scan is not received but no problems are found with scan quality or transmission in UH Libraries systems, one resend will be made. Additional resends will require a new request.

Other policies

Jiffy bags are cheerfully accepted for packaging.

Mailing is suspended from approximately December 23 through January 2 every year.