Inter-Library Loans and Purchase Requests

If you can’t find the item you’re looking for in our collection, you can request to borrow it from another library through an inter-library loan.

If the item is less than two years old, you may instead request that we purchase a copy. Click here to suggest a purchase.

Please note: Due to the statewide inter-library loan policy, items published in the last two years and newly acquired items CANNOT be sought through an inter-library loan request.

The decision to supply materials is at the discretion of the supplying library and is subject to any licensing conditions and policies that may apply.

Inter-library loans temporarily suspended

Due to a nationwide system update, all inter-library loan requests will be suspended from Monday, 12 May 2025. We expect the service to return in early July.

Some outstanding requests may not be filled, as many library services have already paused their inter-library loan service.

If you currently have an inter-library loan item, please return it by the due date as normal – there’s no need to bring it back early.

Please note: You will be notified if any unfilled inter-library loan requests are cancelled when the service is suspended. Once the new system is live, you’ll need to re-request any items you still wish to borrow.

We understand this is a valued service, and we apologise for the disruption. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

Inter-library loan FAQs

How do I make a request?

Before placing an inter-library loan, please search our catalogue to make sure we don’t already have the item. Items already in our collection cannot be requested as inter-library loans.

To place an inter-library loan request:

  1. Log in to your library account using your library card barcode and PIN (if you need help with this, please get in touch).
  2. Go to the Library Link Victoria website.

How long will it take to receive requested items?

We cannot guarantee the availability or supply time of the material requested, but most requests are successfully supplied within a few weeks. 

How much does an inter-library loan cost?

All inter-library loans will incur a charge. Please see the table below. We will attempt to borrow your item from another Victorian public library. In the event that it is only available at a state, national, academic or special library, we will contact you before proceeding. 

Special conditions may apply to some loans. We’ll make sure to explain these to you before proceeding.

Victorian public libraries$2
State Library of Victoria (must read in library. Includes postage)$12
Interstate public libraries (includes postage)$12
University and special libraries (includes postage)$42.30
National Library of Australia (includes postage)$42.30
Journal articles (depends on size)from $18.50
  • You will need to pay for your item(s) upon collection.
  • Items ordered but not collected will still be charged. (Please let us know immediately if you change your mind).
  • Charges for damaged or lost items will be set by the lending library. This can be up to $150.
  • Items not returned will result in the suspension of this service for you.

Please note: Due to money handling constraints, library agency patrons are currently exempt from the $2 inter-library loan fees. Higher charges still apply.

How many items can I request?

Each library member can request five inter-library loans at once. 

Please note: All Victorian public libraries will loan items for four weeks, with no renewals. Other libraries may have different lending times. Your Library Link Victoria account will keep track of these for you.

Can I request items from any library in Australia?

Library Link Victoria (LLV) will search almost every library collection in Australia, but not all libraries will supply material from their collections.  Eg. Some libraries do not lend AV materials like CDs, DVDs and talking books. 

How can I check the progress of my request?

  1. Log in to your Library Link Victoria account using your library card barcode and PIN.
  2. Open the Requests tab to view current requests.

Need more help? Contact the inter-library loans team

Phone: 03 5447 8344.

Email: ill@ncgrl.vic.gov.au

Suggesting a purchase

Before placing a purchase request, please search the catalogue to make sure we do not already have the item.

If a purchase is made, the item will be reserved for you when it arrives. You will be notified by SMS or email when the item is ready for collection.

All purchases must meet our collection management plan. If a purchase is not made, we’ll send a message to your library account.

Suggest a purchase

 For more help, contact your local library.