Interlibrary Loan & Document Delivery Policies
Before you make a request:
Check both the Online Library Catalog and the Electronic Journals pages to verify that the item is not available. Do you mind using e-books? If not, check NetLibrary to determine if the item is there.
We will NOT request copies of course textbooks or chapters from course textbooks through Interlibrary Loan. Please do not ask us to do so.
Interlibrary Loans: SPH Students, Staff, & Faculty (Houston & Regional Campuses)
Document Delivery: Regional Campus SPH Students, Staff, & Faculty
For libraries who would like to borrow from UTSPH
Request an Interlibrary Loan
Interlibrary Loans: SPH Students, Staff, & Faculty
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) can provide you with books and articles that are not available in the SPH Library, HAM-TMC Library, MD Anderson Library, or the UT Dental Branch Library. If you are at a regional campus, please check your host institution library before making a request. This service is available only to current SPH students, staff, faculty. We currently do not charge for the service.
If you are not affiliated with the UT School of Public Health and are in the Houston area, please contact the Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library or your local public library for interlibrary loan assistance.
How to Submit Requests
If an item is not available, submit an ILL request. Please be certain to include a complete citation. Please keep track of all requests you submit. You will be contacted by e-mail when your item(s) arrive. You can pick up your item(s) at the circulation desk.
Time Required for Interlibrary Loan
Loans may take two to three weeks to arrive. Please indicate if you need an item rushed; we will do what we can to get items to you as quickly as possible.
Returning Interlibrary Loan Materials
Journal articles typically do not need to be returned. Other items, such as books, microfiche, and microfilm must be returned the Interlibrary Loan Office or the Circulation Desk before the date due. You are responsible for the lost of or damage to interlibrary loan materials that you borrow.
The lending library determines the loan period and renewal policy for its materials. Borrowers can expect to keep most materials for about three weeks. If you would like to renew an interlibrary loan item, please contact the SPH Library before the initial due date. If the lender denies the renewal, you must return the item(s) by the due date.
The SPH Library reserves the right to restrict borrowing privileges for users who fail to return materials in a timely fashion. This may include but is not limited to: in-house use only of borrowed materials; only one outstanding ILL item at a time, i.e. you can have only one item checked out to you from ILL; and no ILL privileges.
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Document Delivery: SPH Students, Staff, and Faculty not located in Houston
If you are at a regional campus OR you are currently enrolled or employed by the UTSPH but working or studying outside the Houston area, you can request articles and books be sent to you at your remote site.
Regional campus students, staff, and faculty: Please check your host institution first. If it is not available through your host institution, but it is in the SPH Library or one of the THSLC libraries, please complete a request through ILLiad. Be sure to indicate the campus you are on and include the complete citation: Title of the article, author of the article, journal title, year, volume, issue, and pages.
If you need a book that is not at your host institution but is available in the SPH Library, complete a request through ILLiad. If the SPH Library does not have the item and it is not owned by the library at your host institution, you can request the item the UTSPH Library Interlibrary Loan system. Be sure to indicate the campus you are on and include the complete citation: Title of the book, author of the book, publisher, and year or edition.
If you would like to renew a book, please contact the SPH Library before the initial due date or renew your books online.
The SPH Library reserves the right to restrict borrowing privileges for users who fail to return materials in a timely fashion. This may include but is not limited to: in-house use only of borrowed materials; only one outstanding ILL item at a time, i.e. you can have only one item checked out to you from ILL; and no ILL privileges.
Brownsville Users
Please check the UT-B Oliveira Memorial Library to determine if the item is available there before requesting it through Interlibrary Loan.
Dallas Users
Please check the UT-Southwestern Library to determine if the item is available there before requesting it through Interlibrary Loan.
El Paso Users
Please check the UTEP Library to determine if the item is available there before requesting it through Interlibrary Loan.
San Antonio Users
Please check the UTHSC-SA Library to determine if the item is available there before requesting it through Interlibrary Loan.
For libraries who would like to borrow from the SPH Library (TPH)
Effective December 1st, 2008:
The SPH Library reserves the right to restrict lending of certain types of materials including but not limited to: theses and dissertations, single issues of journals, and bound journals.
The SPH Library is a member of Amigos Library Services and the South Central Region of the Medical Library Association
Harris County TX area libraries (including the Medical Center and UTMB libraries): no charge
NLM Region 5 (South Central Region): $9.00 per article, $9.00 per book, & $10.00 additional for rush
Amigos members: $9.00 per article, $9.00 per book, & $10.00 additional for rush
Out of region (non-Region 5 and non-Amigos) libraries: $11.00/article, $11.00/book, & $10.00 additional for rush
For more information about ILL call 713-500-9130 or email the Interlibrary Loan Office.
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