Interlibrary Loans

You can submit an interlibrary loan request form. You can also visit the University of Alberta Library in person and borrow materials using your MacEwan ID (please bring a government-issued ID as well). If you have questions, email us at ill@macewan.ca.

MacEwan students, faculty, and staff can request interlibrary loans. ILL requests for Distance Education Students are handled on a case-by-case basis.

Borrowers can submit as many interlibrary loan requests as they wish; however, the Library reserves the right to impose a monthly limit upon the number of interlibrary loans submitted by an individual. Copyright rules may also result in restrictions. 

Typically, articles take 2-10 days to arrive, while books take 7-21 days. However, some items may take longer. Please submit ILL requests well in advance of when the material is required.

Almost any type of material is available by ILL provided the lending library will loan it, or a photocopy can be made of it without infringing on copyright laws or licensing agreements. You may request items that show as Missing, Lost, or Bindery in the library catalogue.

Some items are occasionally unavailable through ILL, including reference items, CDs, music scores, rare or archival materials, and entire journal issues or volumes.

Due to copyright restrictions, full copies of electronic resources cannot be borrowed from other libraries. You may borrow one chapter or 10% of an electronic resource, or one article from a periodical, whichever amount is greater. Requests for full copies of items will default to physical requests.

There is no charge for MacEwan cardholders in good standing to borrow books through ILL. However, if the cost of borrowing the book is estimated to exceed $35.00, students will need approval from their instructor before the request will be sent. If "rush" service is requested, any additional costs associated with the rush request will be charged back to the borrower.

You will be notified by email when your items are available. Print/physical items are held for pickup at the library hold shelf near the services desk. Please note that items on the hold shelf will still need to be checked out to your account.

Electronic items will be available via email.

You can track your requests by logging into My Account and selecting the "Requests" tab. The status of your active requests will be displayed, and the links to completed electronic/digital requests will be available here.

Items are loaned for a period of time determined by the lending library, and renewals may vary depending on the lending library's rules. Renewal requests should be made to ill@macewan.ca a few days in advance of the due date.

Interlibrary loans must be returned to the Library Services Desk or a book return bin on campus.

Borrowers are responsible for all costs associated with lost or damaged items. If a borrower continually disregards interlibrary loan guidelines, the Library reserves the right to revoke interlibrary loan privileges.

Requests can be made by email to ill@macewan.ca.