Borrowing from Other Libraries
Requesting items from the AUAS Library
With a valid UvA library card, UvA student ID card or UvA staff ID card you are entitled to borrow from the library of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA/AUAS) at no additional cost.
Requesting items from libraries in Amsterdam
If you want to borrow from different libraries in Amsterdam, you can take out an AdamNet membership with the Amsterdam Public Library. The membership entitles you to a free borrower's card at several Amsterdam libraries. Read more about the conditions on the AdamNet website.
Requesting items from other libraries in the Netherlands
When a book or article is not available within the UvA or AUAS, you can place an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) request. To use this service you need an ILL account.
Publications from other libraries can be requested via WorldCat Discovery, the national database with books and journals from Dutch libraries. It also includes articles from a large number of journals.
You can select the location where you want to collect your requested books. Articles will be sent to you by e-mail. The borrowing period for books that you borrowed from another library cannot be extended.
Requesting items from libraries outside The Netherlands
If a book or article is not available at a library within the Netherlands, then please make a suggestion (using the contact form) to purchase the item for the collections of the UvA-library. Should this suggestion be rejected, you could consider placing an ILL request at a library abroad with the digital form below.
Please allow for extended delivery times. We depend on the cooperation of the libraries abroad. A submitted request does not guarantee delivery.
Opening an ILL account
- Students and staff: an ILL account will be opened automatically, at the same time you place your first ILL request through Worldcat Discovery.
- External patrons can request an ILL account with the online form at the bottom of this page.
Customers with an ILL account must comply with the regulations (see below). To manage your requests in Worldcat Discovery, use the manual (see below).
Conditions and charges
These are the nation-wide conditions for the ILL service:
- No delivery to for-profit institutions
- Delivery of photocopies: only digitally
- No delivery of e-books
- Delivery from e-journals is possible
Charges for ILL:
| The Netherlands | Outside The Netherlands | |
| Loan request (book) | €13.00 | €25.00 |
| Photocopy (article or book chapter) | € 6.50 | €15.00 |
Until the end of August 2025 ILL costs for UvA and AUAS staff and students will not be charged to them. External borrowers must pay the charges above.
In August 2025, the cost allocation will be reviewed and determined for the period starting on September 2025.
Information for other libraries
Materials from the UvA-collection can be requested through OCLC Tipasa with our symbol ‘QGK.’ Within the Netherlands we charge €13,- for loans and €6,50 for copies.
Libraries in other countries can request copies through OCLC Tipasa for $16. Books can be requested on loan by sending a message to ibl-uba@uva.nl . We charge 3 IFLA vouchers per book (payment is only possible with IFLA vouchers).