The interlibrary loan service at Library and Archives Canada facilitates access to Canada's documentary heritage and supports resource sharing in Canada.
Who can use this service?
Any library may borrow from us on behalf of its patrons. Individual researchers who need to use LAC collections should ask their local interlibrary loan service to send us a request.
Services provided:
How to send requests:
Please send your requests electronically if possible, using:
- ISO ILL software (e.g. AGENT, Relais, VDX),
- AMICUS Web – for Canadian libraries only,
- ILL Web form – for any library, and for items that cannot be found in AMICUS, or
- OCLC ILL - enter NLD five times in lender string
Occasional requests may be sent by mail, fax, or email.
Service standards:
Our standard turn-around times are 2 working days for a basic search and 10 working days for an in-depth search.
All interlibrary loan requests sent to LAC receive a Basic search for alternate locations if we can't supply the publication from our own collection. Please tell us in a note if you would also like us to search for American locations in a Basic Level search.
If an In-depth search is requested, we will use all appropriate resources to verify and locate the document. This service is particularly useful for government documents, rare and foreign material, and titles that may not have been properly cited by your client.
Loan period:
4 weeks to most of Canada; 8 weeks to Northern Territories and non-Canadian libraries.
Charges:
Interlibrary loan services are free of charge, except for the replacement cost of lost or damaged items. The borrowing library must pay the costs of returning our materials to us.
Renewals, status queries, cancellations:
Two 4-week renewals can be requested, except for newspapers on microfilm, which are not renewable.
Documents that have been reserved by another client cannot be renewed.
If you use an ISO software or OCLC to send your requests, requests for renewals and cancellations must be sent through that system. Renewals and status queries for non-ISO requests can be sent to illservicespeb@lac-bac.gc.ca.
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