Knowledge and Information Management Services

The SAMRC’s interlibrary lending service provides researchers with photocopies, books and other material not available at other institutions.

Who qualifies for interlibrary lending? 
All SAMRC staff and the public.

How to submit requests?
By email to docdel@mrc.ac.za.

How long will delivery take? 
Requests are processed as soon as possible. SAMRC material is provided to other institutions within two to five days and requested material is sourced by the SAMRC from other institutions within 21 days.

Are there limits to what can be sourced? 

Certain categories of material are not readily available through interlibrary lending (e.g. rare books, special collections, audio-visual materials, reference works and entire issues of periodicals). Photocopies can be made of these documents (subject to the Copyright Act 98 of 1978). Copyright law limits copies to no more than one article from a single issue and no more than 10% of the specific issue to be copied for the same client.

How much does it cost?
Document delivery services and Cost
SAMRC staff can use their project codes to cover payment while external clients are required to pay in cash.

What is the loan period? 
Loan periods vary, depending on the policy of the supplying library. On average, loan periods range from four to eight weeks.

Who must the material be returned to? 
All material obtained from and through ISD on ILL must be returned to the SAMRC, - either personally or by means of registered or insured mail.

Material may be borrowed  from the SAMRC’s resource centre:

• In person by visiting our resource centre.
• Electronically - by Email: docdel@mrc.ac.za
• By telephone - only when a valid book number, title or authors are supplied.

Need any support or help? Email/call us.

To order and purchase publications or bibliographical resources, please contact the SAMRC’s information specialists.