Library Services

Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) supports research and study needs by helping eligible users obtain books, articles, book chapters, conference papers, symposium materials, and theses not available in Sultan Qaboos University Libraries.

Eligibility

Who Can Use This Service

Interlibrary Loan is available for SQU faculty, staff, and registered students through the Main Library.

Eligible Main Library Users

Faculty, staff, undergraduate final year students, postgraduate students, and researchers may request materials through the service.

Exceptions

The colleges of Medicine, Nursing, and Economics & Political Science are excluded because they have their own libraries.

Service Scope

What You Can Request

The Main Library works with many libraries worldwide to obtain Arabic and English materials.

Books
Journal Articles
Book Chapters
Conference Papers
Symposium Materials
Theses
Some countries in Africa and South America are excluded from the library’s understanding arrangements.
Request Process

How to Fill the ILL Form

Complete the ILL form by entering your personal details, bibliographic citation details, and the “Not required after” date.

Form Details

  1. Enter your name, ID, request date, college, department, phone/mobile, and email.
  2. Add the bibliographic citation details, such as book or periodical or thesis title, author, article or chapter title, year, volume, number or part, month, and pages.
  3. Fill in Not required after to indicate the latest useful date for the request.

ILL Form Link

Open the ILL Form

Loan & Delivery

Loan Periods and Delivery Time

Books, Journals, Reports

These materials are usually loaned for 2 to 3 weeks and may be renewed according to the lending library’s policy.

Estimated Delivery

  • Please allow about two weeks in most cases.
  • Some items may arrive within 3 days.
  • Arabic articles may take 3 to 4 weeks.
  • Arabic theses may take up to 3 months.
Collection & Return

Receiving and Returning ILL Materials

Users are notified by telephone or email when materials have been received and processed.

Pickup and Return Location

ILL materials can be collected and returned at the Reference desk/office on the ground floor only.

Important Item Band Information

  • Due date
  • Conditions of use
  • In-library use only
  • No copying
  • Barcode for issuing and returning
  • Please do not remove this band from the material.
Annual Entitlement

Entitlement per Academic Year

Faculty
Photocopies: 50
Books: 10
Postgraduate and Researchers
Photocopies: 45
Books: 8
Undergraduate Final Year Students
Photocopies: 20
Books: 3
Administrative Staff
Photocopies: 15
Books: 3
Lending other Libraries

Service for External Organizations and Institutions

This service is for organizations and institutions not affiliated with Sultan Qaboos University when requesting books and articles from the Main Library collection.

What is Allowed

Individuals are entitled to copies of articles only, while organizations and institutions may request books on loan and articles.

Within Oman

The Main Library allows lending of books to organizations and institutions within Oman where cooperation and resource exchange agreements exist.

Charges
There are no charges at present.
Loan Period
Book on loan: 3 weeks.
Not for
Sultan Qaboos University faculty, staff, and students.
To benefit from this service, librarians should contact: ill@squ.edu.om
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Interlibrary Loan?

It is a service that supports research needs by obtaining materials not available at SQU Libraries, including books, articles, conference papers, symposium materials, microfilms, theses, and CD-ROM items.

2. Do I have to pay for the service?

No. The Interlibrary Loan service is free.

3. How long does it take to receive material?

Please allow two weeks in general. Some items may arrive within 3 days. Arabic articles may take 3 to 4 weeks, and Arabic theses may take around 3 months.

4. How do I get reference help from a librarian?

Visit the Reference desk at the entrance of the Main Library.

Or call: +968 2414 - (5619-5615-5616-5617)

Or email: Reference@squ.edu.om

5. Why was my request cancelled?

It may be cancelled because the material is already available within SQU Libraries.

6. Can I request media such as CDs or DVDs?

Yes, but only if the material is kept in that format.