Books and journal articles which are not available at the library can be ordered from other university and research libraries, both domestic and foreign. These services are intended for RU staff and students. RU students pursuing exchange studies at foreign universities should turn to the university library of the university in question. Other university and research libraries can borrow materials from RU library collections for their patrons.
Please send us an email with any questions regarding interlibrary loans or visit our circulation desk and get assistance.
Requests are usually processed on the same day by LIRU.
*It is assumed that the requested material is available
You´ll receive a notification via e-mail when your material has arrived in the library.
Orders must be picked up at the library. RU employees, though, can request that articles be sent to their office.
Due to agreements with other libraries, it is not permissible to forward articles electronically. Articles are therefore solely delivered in printed format.
Each library sets its own rules for borrowing materials, but the loan period is usually 4 weeks.
Books from the collections of the Central Bank of Iceland, the Althing, and other government libraries that are prepared to loan materials, are only on reading room loan, that is, they must be read within the library.
Good collaboration with other libraries is necessary for good interlibrary loan services. It is therefore very important to respect the loan period we are given.
If the loan period is not sufficient, borrowers can request a renewal when the due date draws near. The loan is usually renewed if no one else is waiting for the item in question.
RU staff and students
University and research libraries in Iceland
Books, book chapters, articles from published journals, reports, and other published material that can be ordered from other libraries.
Books are not ordered from public libraries in Iceland.
Familiarise yourself with the price list of the library before sending the library a request for an interlibrary loan.
Staff and doctoral students receive all interlibrary loans free of charge.
Master's students receive 5 interlibrary loans per semester free of charge but pay according to the price list for more.
Patrons are responsible for materials that they have borrowed and are not permitted to loan the material to others. If an item is damaged or lost, the borrower, that is, the person registered for the loan, is responsible and may have to pay for a new copy. An attempt is made to assess the cost of purchasing a new item, but the minimum fee is 8.000 ISK.