Interlibrary loans

If you need literature not available from any Munich library, you can order it through the interlibrary loans service (ILL).

You can order the following on interlibrary loan

books (monographs) for loan
copies of journal articles
copies of articles from books (collected editions)

You will not be able to order the following on ILL

literature held by Munich libraries, even if out on loan or for reference only
final theses for Master's, Bachelor, Diploma and Magister courses, or other examinations
paperbacks in print costing less than 15 Euro
DIN-norms and patent specifications
current and recent travel guides and books with purely practical content, such as light fiction, hobby literature, textbooks and popular non-fiction

Who may use the service

The interlibrary loans service of the University Library is available to all students and staff of the LMU. All other users, such as private individuals and students of other universities, are asked to use the interlibrary loans service of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (BSB) or of their own university library.top

Ordering

You have not been able to find the desired title in the University Library online catalogue.
Log in with your library card number and password using the link "log on" in the top right-hand corner of the online catalogue web page.
Click on the link “Advanced Search”. You will get back to the start page of the online catalogue with your saved search inquiry.
Check the box “Bibliotheksverbund Bayern” under "Database selection". You are now searching via Gateway Bayern, a database containing the holdings of all the academic libraries in Bavaria.
Once you have found the book, select the tab "Get document". Click on "open interlibrary loan order form" to submit your order.
If the title is found, select the tab "Get document". Click on "Further options", then on "open interlibrary loan order form" to submit your order.
If there are no matches for your search using the extended database selection, go to the tab "Additional services" in the top menu bar of the online catalogue and click on the link "Ill etc.", then on "Interlibrary loan". Enter the details of the required title in the search form and submit your interlibrary request.top

Handling time

It is not possible to say exactly how long it will take for your book to arrive. Deliveries from other Bavarian libraries usually take one to two weeks, from libraries in other federal states two to three weeks.

If your interlibrary loan request cannot be met, you will be notified by e-mail.top

Collection

Books

As soon as your order arrives at the University Library you be notified by e-mail. Books ordered on interlibrary loan can be collected at the UB.info counter on presentation of your LMUcard or library card.

Journal articles

The delivery of journal articles in electronic form has been standard since 01.01.2024. You will receive a notification e-mail containing a download link. After you have logged in with your library number and password, you will be able to download the PDF of the article you requested. You have a maximum of 40 days to download the article, after which the PDF will be deleted from the server.

However, there are exceptions to electronic delivery:

the supplying library does not participate in the electronic delivery system
licensing rights regulations governing the use of an electronic journal may prohibit electronic delivery
the article in question is being supplied by a foreign library on international interlibrary loan.

In such cases you will also be sent an e-mail; this will tell you to expect a paper copy that you must collect from the UB.info counter in the Zentralbibliothek (Main Library) on presentation of your LMUcard or your library card.

Your interlibrary book loans are listed in your library account under “loans”. You can see a list of all copies of journal articles that you have ordered by clicking on the Online catalogue tab “Additional services” and then on “Copies via Interlibrary loan”.

You can usually extend the loan period of interlibrary loans in your library account. The lending library specifies the loan period and possible usage restrictions (e.g., a medium may only be usable in the reading room, or must not be reproduced).top

Charges

Interlibrary loans within Germany

You can generally order printed books free of charge. From 01.01.2024 onwards copies have usually been delivered electronically; these are free of charge for you. This also applies when the journal article is delivered as a paper copy for collection at the counter.

However, charges may apply to more extensive special orders. Should this be the case, we will notify you in advance.

International interlibrary loans

Higher processing and postage costs will always apply to these orders. For more information, please ask at the interlibrary loans office (contact details at the top right of this page).

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