Document Delivery

The Document Delivery Service is used to request books which are not available from any of the University's three Libraries, as well as journal articles which you cannot obtain from your own campus library or from the extensive e-journals collection.

Requests can be made using the online request form (you will need to log in to view this form). A guide to completing your online request is available.

Before requesting material via document delivery, always check the Library Catalogue (for books, e-books and print journals) and USearch (for databases and e-journals) first to make sure the Library cannot already provide it from its resources.

The Document Delivery Office will process your request within 3 working days of receipt. Please allow approximately two weeks for supply of the item, although most requests, especially those electronically, will arrive within a week.

Please note it is not possible to guarantee delivery within a specific time or on a certain date. It is advisable not to submit requests for loans prior to leaving Ulster University on extended leave or fieldwork, as the material may arrive while you are away.

All current students and staff of the University who are in 'good standing' (i.e. no overdue books or outstanding fines) may use the service.

If you are a student on a Distance Learning programme, additional support information is available, including the specifics of using the document delivery service for your mode of study.

The service is not available for Alumni or Civic Access borrowers.

Weekly limits may apply for document delivery requests. Undergraduate and postgraduate students may normally request a total of 4 items per week. Research students and academic staff may request a total of 8 items per week.

We understand that sometimes you may need more than the weekly limit if you're undertaking a systematic review, dissertation or final year project.

If you think it likely you will require more than the above allowance, please contact your Document Delivery office or your Subject Librarian to discuss your requirements before submitting your requests. Please note there may be limits on how many items you can request at one time.

We are unable to facilitate the loan of an eBook but we may be able to source one individual chapter from an eBook.

If requesting articles or book chapters in practice you will normally only be able to request one article from a single issue of a journal, one paper from the published proceedings of a conference, one chapter from a book or 10% of the publication, whichever is the greater.

Document Delivery material may be renewed subject to agreement from the lending library. However, it should be noted that renewals are totally at the discretion of the lending library and there is no guarantee that they will be permitted.

Please contact your Document Delivery office for further information.

Please note, however, that document delivery items are subject to recall at any time.  You can check the return date by logging in to your library account.

Ulster staff and students will receive email notification of overdue and in demand items.

The British Library charges a minimum of £214.30 for the replacement of items which are long overdue, damaged or lost. This cost is charged to the borrower responsible and includes a non-refundable administrative charge of £107.15, even if the book is subsequently returned.

Items in demand which are not returned promptly will also incur the above charges.