The document delivery service allows you to request items from other libraries when they aren’t available through LibrarySearch. At present most libraries are unable to provide physical items but we are still having success fulfilling requests for journal articles, book chapters and other items that can be supplied in a digital format.

The exception is the British Library who have restarted their supply of physical items. In the past the British Library have been able to supply around 50% of the books requested through the Document Delivery service. As one of the few Libraries who are supplying physical document delivery items, we expect the demands upon them to be high and the service to have some unavoidable delays.

Impact of Lockdown beginning 5 November 2020

We can confirm that you can still order document delivery items from the British Library for items held at the British Library site in Boston Spa during the 4 week lockdown period starting on 5 November 2020. The British Library will be unable to access physical collection items held at the British Library site in London until lock down restrictions ease, currently 2nd December. If you request an item held in London we will let you know and ask you to reapply after the lockdown period. For more information visit the British Library website.

Document delivery requests

Document delivery requests can be made through LibrarySearch.

You’ll receive an email letting you know if your request has been successful. Digital requests will be emailed to your University email address. Physical items will need to be collected from the Library Point. You will need to make a Browse and Borrow booking for the time you wish to collect the item. Please ensure that booking is during a time the Library Point is staffed.

If the item you have requested is reference only, please book a Click and Study slot so you have time to consult the item at a study space.

The loan period for physical document delivery items will be slightly shorter than before. Under current Government guidelines all items need to be safely stored for 72 hours to mitigate the risk of virus transmission before we can make them available. We are also finding that items are taking longer to send and receive through the post. We have factored this required time into the due date that is set by the British Library.

To return a document delivery item you will need to book a Browse and Borrow slot at your home library. You will need to return the item at the Library Point, please ensure that booking is during a time the Library Point is staffed.

• If you’d like to make a Browse and Borrow booking for Augustine please use this form.
• If you’d like to make a Click and Study booking for Augustine House please use this form.
• For all bookings at Salomons Institute Library please use this form.

Document delivery is currently free for all

The document delivery service usually costs £2.00 per request for undergraduate students, however to support you during the current COVID-19 measures, we are removing all charges from this service for all of this semester, which means document delivery requests will remain free until 22nd January 2021.

The restrictions on the number of document delivery requests you can make each year remain the same. 

For more information

For more inform about the document delivery service

• Students can visit the document delivery page on the Current Students website.
• Staff can visit the document delivery page on StaffNet.

You can get advice on document delivery by emailing:

• library.docdel@canterbury.ac.uk for Canterbury requests
• library.salomons@canterbury.ac.uk for Salomons requests.