LibGuides: Request it!: Staff Request

Request It! Going beyond London Met Library collections

Request It is a free service for current staff and students and is your one-stop shop for requesting items we don’t have in our Library collections, be it an article, chapter, or book.

If you need an article for your own research, first check Library Search to ensure the item is not already available from the library. If it isn't, you can make a request.

We'll do our best to get your requested articles, chapters or books free of charge, but sometimes we can't fulfil requests due to availability, cost or copyright restrictions. When this is the case, we'll let you know of alternative options.

Teaching Materials

Academic staff needing to request teaching materials, please refer to the Reading Lists LibGuide. Adding titles to your list is the easiest and most effective way to ensure the library orders your teaching resources in the appropriate numbers to support the students on your module.

For further help and support with your reading list, please get in touch with your Academic Liaison Librarian.

The importance of including ISBNs/ISSNs in your requests

Why should I include the ISBN on a request for a book or book chapter?

Including the ISBN when requesting a book is crucial for speed and accuracy. The ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a unique identifier for books, which helps libraries and suppliers quickly locate the exact book or chapter you need.

Where do I find an ISBN?

ISBNs are typically found next to the barcode on physical books or in the copyright information of ebooks. They are either 10 or 13 digits long.

By including the ISBN, you help streamline the process and avoid potential delays, which can be caused if the Library staff need to find the ISBN.

Some documents in files and folders Academic staff needing to request teaching materials please refer to the Reading Lists LibGuide. If you need an article for your own research, first check Library Search to ensure the item is not already available from the library. If it isn't, you can make a request.

Request an article

Key information:

The time required to fulfil your request will depend on the format of the item, how easy it is to source, and demand on the service. 
Requests can take longer to process if full details are not supplied including ISSN
Academic staff are entitled to a fair usage number of digital articles / book chapters
Only one article from a journal issue can be requested. If you require more than this, please request the whole journal.
For electronic delivery you will be forwarded an email with a link to your document. This link remains active for 30 days from the date of the original email from the supplying library.
Your access may be less than 30 days due to Interlibrary Loan processing time.
Requests should be for research and private study only.

Cartoon of glasses on a book Academic staff needing to request teaching materials please refer to the Reading Lists LibGuide.

If you need a book for your research and want it added to our collection, first check Library search to ensure we don’t already have it. If not, you can request it.

We will either purchase the title from authorised suppliers or do our best to borrow it from another library. Please note: the length of time it takes to deliver your item will vary depending on availability.

Request a book

Key information

The time required to fulfil your request will depend on the format of the item, how easy it is to source, and demand on the service. 
Requests can take longer to process if full details are not supplied including ISBN.
The library operates a digital first policy. This means we will try and obtain an e-book when we purchase a book, unless the title is only available as print.
There may be occasions when the purchase of an e-book may not be appropriate. These include:
- Out of print/difficult to obtain
- Cost prohibitive
- For specialist research (unlikely to be well used by others)
- In these instances, we will try to loan the material from another library or purchase a print copy for library stock

Academic staff needing to request teaching materials please refer to the Reading Lists LibGuide. If you need a chapter for your own research, first check Library search to ensure the item is not already available from the library. If it isn't, you can make a request.

Request a chapter

Key information:

The time required to fulfil your request will depend on the format of the item, how easy it is to source, and demand on the service. 
Requests can take longer to process if full details are not supplied including ISBN.
Only one chapter from a book can be requested. If you require more than this, please request the whole book.
For electronic delivery you will be forwarded an email with a link to your document. This link remains active for 30 days from the date of the original email from the supplying library.
Your access may be less than 30 days due to Interlibrary Loan processing time.
Requests should be for research and private study only.

London Met theses:

The majority of recent London Met theses are available digitally via Library Search (search by author surname and title)
Older London Met theses may only be available in print (hard copy) format in the Holloway Road Library. Check availability on Library Search first and then ask at the Library Information Desk for access. These print theses can only used in the Library building.

External UK and European theses:

The EThOS service previously provided access to UK university theses. This service is currently offline due to ongoing disruption to British Library services.

If you require access to a specific UK or European thesis please try one of the following search tools:

CORE (UK repository search service)
BASE
NDLTD

Alternatively it may be possible to locate a thesis by visiting the awarding university's repository site and searching there. Please contact the Library if you require assistance.