Library Services of the North-West University

Potchefstroom Campus

Interlending

The Interlibrary Loan Section provides a service to researchers by obtaining material not owned by the Potchefstroom Campus Libraries. Material is obtained from libraries in South Africa, and also from abroad. The Interlibrary Loan Section also supplies documents to other libraries and institutions in South Africa as well as overseas.

Who can apply for interlibrary loans?

The service is available to registered fourth year degree students, Hons.-, M.- and Ph.D-students as well as staff of Potchefstroom Campus of the NWU.

Documents are supplied to other libraries in the RSA belonging to the Interlending network, as well as to libraries overseas.

Where is the Interlibrary loans desk?

It is situated on the left of the reception desk in the foyer of the main library. Books may be collected and returned at the desk.

If you live outside the Potchefstroom area books can be posted to you upon request. It remains the responsibility of the user to return the books to the library either personally or via post.

Office hours

07:30 - 16:30 Monday - Friday

Addresses and contact details

E-mail address: interbib@nwu.ac.za
Tel.: +27 (0)18 299 2793
Fax: +27 (0)18 299 2999

Ariel address: 143.160.24.35

Interlending Services
Ferdinand Postma Library
Private Bag X05
POTCHEFSTROOM
2522

Address for courier: Hoffmanstraat 11, Potchefstroom / Building E7 [Campus map]

Contact person

Co-ordinator: Isabel Blom
Responsible for obtaining material for researchers which is not available in the collection of the Potchefstroom Campus Libraries. Material is obtained from institutions in South Africa as well as from international institutions.

Marie de Wet
Supplying documents to other libraries in South Africa and abroad.

ILL registration

Before you can make use of the interlending service you first have to register.
Registration takes place by completing the ILL registration form.
The ILL section will e-mail your password to you within 48 hours (only week days). Use this password to request your books/journal articles via SACat.
An example of such a password is, user id: 3170-1234567 and password: 3170+1234.
If you cannot remember your password you may search for it in this database: http://www4-win2.p.nwu.ac.za/dbtw-wpd/textbases/interlening.htm
NB: If your personal details have changed e.g. address it is your responsibility to complete another registration form in order to change your details. This is important so that we do not send the books to the wrong address.

How to submit an interlibrary request

Prior to submitting any request on interlibrary loan, check the Library's catalogue and also the electronic journals (A-Z list) available in the library.

Please note: Requests will not be processed if you have any outstanding fines.

Electronic via SACat

Printed request forms: available at the Interlending desk and branch libraries. Please fill in all the required details.

Via e-mail (interbib@nwu.ac.za)

Please use pre-requests on SACat
Important: ONE request per e-mail.
Very important: specify the internal box number, staff/student number and/or other addresses on each request.
E-mail requests must be sent DIRECTLY and not as an attachment.

Bibliographic information needed for an interlending request via e-mail or on printed request forms

Books: author / title / edition / year / ISBN (if available)

Journal articles: journal title / year / volume / part / pagination / author and title of article / ISSN (if available)

Theses and dissertations: author / title / date / university where completed. (The name of the University is very important when you request a thesis or dissertation.)

How long will delivery take?

Books: ± 1 - 3 weeks
Articles: ± 3 -10 days

Delays may occur due to factors beyond the control of the staff, such as books out on loan or journals that may be in the bindery or circulating in the departments.

Notification of arrivals

Articles:

Articles received by Ariel will be sent to your e-mail address.
If you do not have e-mail facilities the article will be sent to the address you supplied. Upon your request it will be kept at the desk. Articles will be posted if requested.
Documents received by mail (not all libraries have Ariel) will be sent to your physical address and cannot be send via e-mail.

Books: When books arrive a notice is sent to users residing in Potchefstroom and it can be collected at the service desk.

Users out of town will receive their books and articles (if e-mail is not available) by mail. It remains the responsibility of the user to return the books to the Library either personally or via post.

Loan period of books

Loan periods are determined by the supplying library.

National: ± 3 - 8 weeks
International: ± ONE week

Inside every book you will find a "book strap" and copyright warning.

Please do not remove the book strap before you return the ILL book to the Library. If you find the book strap irritating you are welcome to strap it to the back of the ILL book.
The strap helps you and the ILL section to identify the book as an ILL book when it is returned to the Library.
Please note that there are two due dates in the book. The correct due date is supplied on the book strap under "Patron due date" (the book must already be returned to the loan library on the second date that is stamped inside the book).
Overdue fees will be R4.00 per book per day.

Renewals

Only ONE renewal is granted and some libraries have a policy of NO renewals (University of Cape Town and Unisa).
Please provide the Request ID on the book strap at all times when you renew your book or make an enquiry by telephone or e-mail (interbib@nwu.ac.za).
Provide the original due date (Patron due date) on the book strap for a renewal.

Costs involved for interlending services

National: articles / books : no charges
International: books £14.80 (25$ - 35$) + postage (depending on the weight of the book).
International: articles £8.25 (15$ - 25$) irrespective of length of text + copyright fee (which is determined by publisher).
Urgent articles (international): fax £21.00 + copyricht fee where applicable.
Renewals: £2.80

What is Ariel?

Ariel is a document transmission system. Users can scan documents and transmit the resulting electronic images via the Internet to different Ariel work stations. Upon receiving, articles are relayed to the e-mail addresses or it can be printed. This system is less expensive, more reliable and of higher quality compared to faxing.