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Interlibrary loans and document delivery

Students and registered library users can request books and articles not available locally from other libraries. However, there are some restrictions to this. The following are not available via ILL:

  • books and other media in the local holdings, even if they are currently on loan, temporarily irretrievable or part of the reference collection
  • works of a non-academic nature, e.g. recreational literature (fiction & non-fiction), hobby literature, travel guides, self-improvement books, etc.
  • books and other media with a retail price of EUR 15.00 or less
  • loose-leaf publications, bound volumes of newspapers and large-sized works

  1. If in the Passau Search Portal the result list "Catalogue of the University Library of Passau" does not contain the desired results, but the result list "Union Catalogue incl. local lending/interlibrary loan" includes a desired book, you can start a interlibrary loan.
  2. Click on the desired title. At the bottom of the following page, there is a table with contains the tab "Order document".
  3. Take the line "Inter-library loan request", "The title is available in the co-operative system" and click "order". The order form appears an the title information is pre-entered into the form.

To search for articles in the Passau Search Portal place your search item and afterwards change to "Articles & more" tab.

Listed documents may be available locally, electronically or via interlibrary loan.

In the best case there is the button "Fulltext". If the button ist there: the desired article ist available with a click if your device is connected to the university network, see also External access.

If you are connected and the document is not available online (if not licensed for the University network), click on the 'Get document' tab to check its availability and place an order to request an interlibrary loan. The order screen is pre-filled with the title information. You will get a  copy in a few days. Check your e-mail account for learning when the document ist available. 

If the Passau Search Portal did not return the desired results, you can open a blank interlibrary loan request form by clicking on  the tab 'Get document' in the bottom line. Choose 'Besondere Fernleihbestellung '

Picking up items requested via interlibrary loan

Once the requested items have arrived, they are ready for collection from the check-out desk. You can collect monographs at any time during the normal opening hours of the Central Library.
Requested articles are usually delivered as PDF via e-mail. In special cases the delivery via e-mail might not be possible. Those articles must be fetched from the Central Library's self-pickup area.

'Ready for collection' notification by e-mail

  • If you are an enrolled student of the University, a message is sent to your student e-mail account when the interlibrary loan arrives. This e-mail address will also be used for other enquiries and notifications concerning your interlibrary loan request.
  • Users from Passau and surroundings: if you wish to use our e-mail service, please inform a staff member at one of the helpdesks of your e-mail address.
  • The Library cannot be held liable for non-reception of e-mail messages in your e-mail account.

  • Books that have arrived are marked as 'ready for collection' in your library account in Passau Search Portal. Interlibrary loans have an '@' symbol before the item code.
  • Please note that the loan period starts with the day on which the requested item becomes 'ready for collection' in your library account.
  • The interlibrary loan is issued with a pink charge slip which holds important information such as the due date. This charge slip must remain in the book and you have to return it together with the book.
  • After their arrival, books are kept ready for collection at the Central Library check-out desk for a period of two weeks.
  • The book must be returned early if the owning library recalls the book before the due date. If this happens, we will send you a written notice. You can see the current due date in your library account.
  • Renewable interlibrary loans are marked as such in your library account, and you can renew the loan within your library account. Please remember that renewals can be cancelled by the library.
  • Non-renewable and recalled items must be returned by the due date. Otherwise, you will receive an overdue fine.
  • E-mail reminders: you will receive an e-mail message three days before the due date to remind you to return your books.

How much does it cost?

The interlibrary loan of books and copies of articles is usually free of charge.
Processing and postage costs may be incurred for copies from special collections or international loans. In these cases, you will be asked in advance whether you will bear the costs.
The costs incurred for interlibrary loan requests can be paid by EC card at the circulation desk of the Central Library.

International interlibrary loans may incur substantially higher handling and postage fees.  Interlibrary loan fees can be paid in cash or by debit card at the check-out desk of the Central Library.

subito. Documents from libraries

Subito  Delivers articles from scientific journals and books directly as PDF. First time visitors will need to register and create a personal account. Subito does not belong to Passau University library. Subito is liable to fees, Subito causes higher costs than interlibrary loan.

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