The requesting library should try to verify and locate the library holding the material before ordering. If that is not possible inquiries can be sent to the National and University Library ill@bok.hi.is which will verify and forward the request.
The lending library will decide on the loan period and article delivery, usually by air-mail but fax or Ariel delivery of articles are also possible from the National and University Library. Borrowing libraries are responsible for the material they have borrowed and for returning it safely.
The following material is not available for loan, but sometimes photocopies can be purchased:
a) Newspapers, always available for photocopies.
b) Journals, always available for photocopies.
c) Books belonging to the Reference Collection or temporarily held for Short Loan Collection.
d) Maps and plates.
e) Extra large material.
f) Rare, valuable, old or books in bad condition.
g) Manuscripts and other material from special collections.
h) CD's, VHS and Musical Notes.
1.1 How requests should be filled out.
Requests must include full bibliographic details. If these are not available the requesting library should report where the source was found. Urgently needed material should be clearly marked as such, as well as books that are only wanted if they can be lent immediately.
1.2 Loan rules.
The loan period is usually 1 month and the due date must be respected. One renewal is allowed by contacting the lending library directly. The borrowing library takes full responsibility for borrowed books until they are returned. They pay for the return postage and the insurance amount if required. Every label sent with a loan should be returned with it. Most Icelandic libraries are members of NORFRI, but some still charge other libraries.
2. Where should the requests be sent?
2.1. Localization.
Before making a request it is neccessary to be aware of the holdings of the lending library. This can be done by searching Gegnir, the Icelandic Union Catalog. Gegnir is accessable free of charge, from the National and University Library's homepage www.bok.hi.is or directly from www.gegnir.is In the year 2003 transfer of files from the two older databases Gegnir and Dobis/Libis is being worked on. Journals held by Icelandic libraries are also listed in NOSP and articles can be ordered there.
2.2. Ordering
The National and University Library serves as the Interlibary Loan centre in Iceland. This means that requests from foreign libraries should generally be sent to this library which will forward requests for material not in their collection to other Icelandic libraries. Requests can be sent to ill@bok.hi.is but as most Icelandic research libraries do their own interlending they can also be contacted directly.