Interlibrary Loans

If a book or some other desired title is not in the collection of any of the OUTI Libraries, it can be ordered as an interlibrary loan (ILL) from another library.

If the title belongs to the collections of OUTI Libraries, it will not be ordered as an interlibrary loan.
Before ordering, please make sure to check if the title can be found through the catalogue search of the OUTI Web Library. You can make a free reservation for items found in the collections of OUTI Libraries in the web library.

Please check before ordering that your contact information is up to date by visiting the library customer service or logging in to the OUTI Web Library.

Please read the instructions on this page in full before submitting your order.

Ordering an interlibrary loan

Interlibrary loans can be requested

primarily through the online form (requires a library card and PIN)
by visiting the local library
if the form cannot be used, by e-mail: kaukopalvelu@ouka.fi
- music interlibrary loans: karjasilta.kirjasto@ouka.fi

If the title is not available through any library in Finland, we can order an interlibrary loan from abroad. Audio, DVDs, Blu-rays, audiobooks or other AV material cannot be ordered from abroad. E-books and other electronic/digital materials cannot be ordered as interlibrary loans.

Celia's accessible Daisy audiobooks are not ordered as interlibrary loans. Instead, you can make an acquisition proposal. Celia audiobooks are aimed at people who have difficulty reading traditional books, for example because of dyslexia, vision impairment or other reason. Contact your local library for more information.

One library user can have a maximum of 20 interlibrary loans at a time.
Interlibrary loans must be renewed and returned on time. If you have an overdue interlibrary loan, you cannot order new interlibrary loans until you have returned or renewed your overdue interlibrary loans.

We follow the national interlibrary loan guidelines and regulations.
The Oulu City Library is not responsible for the condition of the items received as interlibrary loans.

Fees

Interlibrary loans have a handling fee of 1 €.

Additionally, some of the sender libraries charge a fee of 1–15 €. We order interlibrary loans primarily from libraries that send the material free of charge. If the total price of the interlibrary loan exceeds the handling fee of 1 €, the library will be in touch with you before ordering.

By submitting an interlibrary loan request through the form, you agree to pay the handling fee of 1 €. Interlibrary loan fees are paid as they are picked up from your library of choice. If the pick-up library does not have a cash register, the fees are added to your library card.

Remember to cancel your ILL order if you have placed the order but you no longer need the item. You can cancel your order by notifying the library. If an interlibrary loan has already been ordered and has been delivered by the sender library, you have to pay for the interlibrary loan you ordered. Interlibrary loan fees will also be charged for loans that have not been picked up.
If the order is cancelled before it has been sent from the sender library, there is no need to pay for the loan.

Loan periods

The library which lends us the material determines the loan period and the number of renewals. Renewing interlibrary loans is free of charge.

Other library users might place a hold on the item which in turn prevents renewals.

Picking up and returning interlibrary loans

You can choose your preferred local library as the pick-up location when ordering. Interlibrary loans cannot be picked up during library self-service hours.

You will see the due date of the interlibrary loan on the message you receive when the loan is ready to be picked up. You need to take care of renewing your interlibrary loans on time. Interlibrary loans are not listed in the OUTI Web Library in the same way as regular loans.

Interlibrary loans can be returned to any local library of the Oulu City Library. Please remember to keep the receipt you receive with the interlibrary loan and return it along with the item.

Renewing interlibrary loans

You can check your own interlibrary loans and send a request for renewal by using the online interlibrary loan form. Enter your library card number and PIN first and select ‘view loans’.

If the online form cannot be used, a renewal request can also be sent by e-mail: kaukopalvelu@ouka.fi
Music-related interlibrary loans are renewed by the music department at the Karjasilta Library: karjasilta.kirjasto@ouka.fi, tel. +358 8 558 47352.