Borrow from Other Libraries / Interlibrary Loan

Current students, faculty, and staff can now use the Omni search tool to locate and borrow resources directly from participating university libraries. To make a request for an item that cannot be located using Omni please fill out the blank request form. 

Note: As of May 1, 2023 McMaster users will no longer have access to RACER. Please use Omni for all ILL requests. 

Submit an Interlibrary Loan request Omni blank request form

Interlibrary Loan

Borrow from Other Libraries

Current students, faculty, and staff are eligible to request materials not available from McMaster collections directly via Omni. If you are unable to find the item you need in Omni, or already know the citation information, you can use the blank request form to get an item from another library.

If your requested item is not available from an Omni partner, Interlibrary Loan staff will continue to search for another library in Canada or Internationally to supply the item.

Interlibrary Loan Policies

  • There is no charge for the Interlibrary Loan service.
  • Books take 2-5 days or longer to arrive. Articles and chapter scans take 24 hours or longer to arrive.
  • You cannot request a print copy of a book if the library has access to the electronic version.
  • Interlibrary Loan services are for current students, faculty, and staff. External Borrowers and Alumni can use Interlibrary Loan services at the local public library.
  • The loan period is determined by the lending library. Typical loan periods are 6 weeks without renewal.
  • All material is subject to recall.
  • The loss of Interlibrary Loan materials should be reported to Interlibrary Loans staff. The borrower must pay the replacement cost set by the lending library.

Submit an Interlibrary Loan Request

Borrowing from another University library (Reciprocal Borrowing)

Borrowing in Person from a Non-McMaster Library

In addition to using Omni, McMaster faculty, staff, and students can borrow in person from other university libraries in Canada (excluding: University of Toronto and Ontario College of Art and Design) .

Please contact the library in question to determine their requirements for a Reciprocal Borrower Card. Most will require a current McMaster ID and proof of address, but additional documentation may be required. 

Contact a partner university in: 

Ontario

Quebec

Atlantic provinces

Western provinces

University of Toronto Libraries charges reciprocal borrowers (like McMaster students) a fee of $300 for a borrower card. McMaster Library will subsidize $250 towards the cost of these cards, for graduate students only. 

  1. To acquire or renew an external borrower card at UTL for the coming year, please complete the application form and submit to the Head, Access Services, Mills Library service desk (1st floor). Cards may no longer be arranged for at Robarts Library.
  2. You will be responsible for the remaining $50. We can accept a MOSAIC chartfield, debit, or credit card for this fee.
  3. When this transaction has been completed, we will alert the staff at the Robarts Library so that they can provide you with a borrower card.  

You are welcome to submit interlibrary loan requests for any materials not owned by McMaster using the Omni blank request form. There is no charge for an interlibrary loan. Recommendations to purchase items for the Library’s collections are welcome and will be considered as the budget allows.

Faculty may obtain on-site access and/or borrowing privileges at over 160 research libraries participating in the OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program.  Please contact the library in question to determine their requirements. 

North American members of OCLC Reciprocal Faculty Borrowing Program 

(excluding: University of Toronto and Ontario College of Art and Design)

Hamilton Public Library cards are free to anyone living, working or studying in Hamilton.

Students attending an educational institution in Hamilton are eligible for a free library card with identification and a student card.  Register at any HPL branch  If you have any questions, Contact HPL. 

Information for Borrowing Libraries

Information for Borrowing Libraries

Please include the following information : 

  • Rate Classification: BOOKS and SHEET MUSIC
  • Attention: REVENUE CANADA
  • Tariff / Tarif: 9813.00.00 or 9814.00.00
  • GST / TSP Code: 66
  • Property of McMaster University Library Material returned on Interlibrary Loan.
  • OCLC Symbol: MUX
  • AG TRACEit Code: MAS
  • NUC Symbol: CaOHM

For libraries without an ILL Management System, requests must be submitted using a Web form

  • Loans: Canadian locations $10.00 (Cdn) per filled request; USA locations $25 (US); International $55 (US).
  • Copies: Canadian locations $10.00 (Cdn) per filled request; USA/ International locations: $10 (US).
  • Courier: We will send collect via Purolator, Federal Express, DHL, UPS. The Borrowing Library is responsible for any and all custom duties incurred at their country's border. McMaster will not be responsible for these expenses.

We prefer IFM billing through OCLC, but also accept Visa and MasterCard. For all other requests, an invoice will be supplied with the material. 

Cheques or Money Orders are to be payable to: McMaster University. We do not accept third party cheques.

  • 120 Day Loan
  • Microfilm: Maximum of 6 (six) reels per request.
  • When possible, borrowing libraries should check to see whether the required thesis/dissertation is available in a digital format through our Institutional Repository, MacSphere.
  • For those theses/dissertations not found here, we will first attempt to digitize the thesis On Demand; if this is not possible, we will circulate print or fiche copies of theses or dissertations.
  • We are no longer able to provide photocopies of theses or dissertations.

Address

Interlibrary Loans
Mills Memorial Library
McMaster University
1280 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario Canada L8S 4L6
Tel: 905-525-9140 x22078
Fax: 522-0691

Email the ILL Department