Interlibrary loans (ILL)
Documents that are not available in the library may be requested through an inter-library loan from other libraries in Switzerland or abroad.
A courier service is available on the swisscovery platform that enables you to request a book directly online from a library and to collect it from another library of your choice.
How does the courier service work? (pdf)
If the book you are looking for cannot be found on swisscovery or cannot be delivered by courier, complete the electronic form for inter-library loans. Our libraries will arrange to find a copy and order it for you.
Electronic form for inter-library loans
Procedure for academic and intermediary staff / Administrative personnel / USI Students
Origin of document | Papers | Photocopies |
Ticino library system (SBT) | Free | Free |
Other libraries in Ticino and Switzerland (swisscovery or otherwise) | Free | Free |
Other | Actual costs incurred | Actual costs incurred |
N.B.: In the library catalog, if you use the form "Digitalization Request" under the section "Other options for loans and requests", you can send the request directly to a library outside the USI. This may incur costs that are invoiced directly to the user from the library that is digitalizing the document.
Procedure for external users
Document from | Papers | Photocopies |
Ticino library system (SBT) | Free | Free |
Other libraries in Ticino and Switzerland (swisscovery or otherwise) | CHF 8.- | CHF 10.- for every 20 pages (or fraction) |
Other | Actual costs incurred | Actual costs incurred |
Charges
The same fines and methods of notification apply to loans of our own documents and those from other libraries.
See FAQ > Fines for late returns
Fines
For Academy of Architecture students, all communications regarding the requested document (arrival expiry dates, availability) will be sent by email alone; external users will be contacted by telephone or by email.
The national inter-library loan service will be suspended two weeks before the exams, while the international inter-library loan service will be suspended four weeks before the exams.
Users should ensure they complete the electronic form for inter-library loans correctly.
