Interlibrary Loan Service

Interlibrary Loan

The Interlibrary Loan Service delivers books and journal articles not held by the HKMU Library. Items can be obtained from both local and overseas sources to support study, research and teaching of the academic and administrative equivalent staff, postgraduate and project-based undergraduate students.

About ILL Service

1. Can I use the ILL Service?

This service is available to HKMU full-time academic and administrative equivalent staff (except temporary and part-time staff), postgraduate course students and project-based undergraduate students (see eligible undergraduate courses).

2. What materials can I request?

The ILL Service handles requests for items that are not held in the library collections. They can be books, journal articles and conference papers. Reference materials, rare books, and journals are usually excluded.

3. Do I have to pay for ILL Service?

User Categories	Local Sources	Overseas Sources (Photocopies of Articles/ Book Loans)	Maximum Quotas each time
Staff – Academic & Administrative Equivalent	Photocopies / Digital copies of Articles: Free	Free	20
	Book Loans: Free
Postgraduate Students	Photocopies / Digital copies of Articles: HK$0.5 per page	Subject to source library’s policy	8
	Book Loans: Free
Undergraduate Project-Based Students (see eligible undergraduate courses)	Photocopies / Digital copies of Articles: HK$0.5 per page	Subject to source library’s policy	5
	Book Loans: Free

** Charges may vary among supplying sources. They also have the right to change and finalize the charges. Users can consult with the ILL staff before submitting requests.

*** Supplied format subject to source library.

4. How to submit my request?

Check our LibSearch first to make sure the item is not in our collection.
Login to “ILL Service” with your HKMU User ID and Single Password.
Complete the request form; all fields marked with * must be filled.
Press “SEND REQUEST” button.

5. How to check the status of my request?

Login to your Borrower Record with HKMU User ID and Single Password.
Click the “REQUESTS” tab to display a list of all your requested items along with their current status.

Status	Description
ILL. Request received	HKMU Library has received the request.
ILL. Request sent	The request is sent to the source library in Hong Kong or overseas for processing.
ILL. Shipped	The requested item is shipped from the source library.
ILL. Received – Pick up notice will be sent by email	HKMU Library has received the item. You may collect the item from the Library Service Counter after receiving the Pick Up Notice.
ILL. Digital copy received and in process	HKMU Library has received the item in digital format.
ILL. Delivered and ready for download	The digital copy is ready for download at your Library account.

iii. Click the “LOAN LIST” tab to display a list of all your loaned ILL items along with their current status.

6. How long does it take to fulfill my request?

Response time is completely dependent on the turnaround time of the source library. Normally it takes 9.5 working days to receive most materials. Items requested from overseas may take longer.

7. Will I be notified?

For staff, photocopies will be sent to user together with a declaration form by inter-departmental mail. The user is required to sign and return the declaration form and acknowledgement of the receipt. An email message will be sent advising that item is available for download at Library account or collection at Library Service Counter.

Staff who are stationing in HKMU remote sites (i.e. LiPACE and NEO) can request the items to be delivered to your office directly via FMO. Please go to “Book Loan Service for Staff in HKMU Remote Sites – Interlibrary loan items delivery” for details.

For students, a notification will be sent to your HKMU email account advising that the request item is available for download at Library account or collection at the Library Service Counter.

Email message will be sent for request(s) rejected as the item is available in the Library or not available in all source libraries.

8. Must I return the loan?… Can I renew the loan?

The loans should be returned to Library Service Counter on or before the due date, otherwise, overdue fines may be imposed. If recall notice is received from source libraries for return of items before the due date, users have to return the recalled item to the Library by the new due date as specified on the recall notice.

Prompt return is important for the continuation of our business with source libraries.

Renewals can be made with the consent of the source libraries. Users can send renewal request via email (libill@hkmu.edu.hk) or their Library account. Users are advised to send renewal request(s) three days before the due date.

Photocopies are not required to return.

9. How can I report lost or damage?

For lost or damage of the ILL item(s), users are required to report to ILL staff by phone (Tel: 2768-6782) or email (libill@hkmu.edu.hk). When the report for item loss/damaged is acknowledged, you are expected to settle the replacement cost, handling or other charges levied by the source library.

10. How can I download my digital article?

The supplied format of Article request is subject to source library. If digital copy is ready for download, a notification will be sent to your HKMU email account advising that the request item is available for download at Library account. Users can download the article up to 5 times in 14 days.

11. Copyright and others

All ILL requests must comply with the Copyright Ordinance of Hong Kong. The Library reserves the right to reject those requests that do not comply with the HKMU ILL policy.

Items obtained through ILL cannot be placed on Reserve Collection.

12. Contacts

Please feel free to contact ILL staff in the Library, or by:

Phone:	2768-6782
Email:	libill@hkmu.edu.hk