Interlibrary Loans

If a book or some other desired title is not in the collection of any of the OUTI Libraries, it can be ordered as an interlibrary loan (ILL) from another library.

If the title belongs to the collections of OUTI Libraries, it will not be ordered as an interlibrary loan.
Before ordering, please make sure to check if the title can be found through the catalogue search of the OUTI Web Library. You can make a free reservation for items found in the collections of OUTI Libraries in the web library or at the library customer service.

Please check before ordering that your contact information is up to date by visiting the library customer service or logging in to the OUTI Web Library. You need a personal valid library card to order an interlibrary loan.

Please read the instructions on this page in full before submitting your order.

Ordering an interlibrary loan

Interlibrary loans can be requested

primarily through the online form (requires a library card and PIN)
by visiting the local library
if the form cannot be used, by e-mail: kaukopalvelu@ouka.fi
- music interlibrary loans: karjasilta.kirjasto@ouka.fi

If the title is not available through any library in Finland, we can order an interlibrary loan from abroad. Audio, DVDs, Blu-rays, audiobooks and other AV items cannot be ordered from abroad.
E-books and other electronic/digital materials cannot be ordered as interlibrary loans.

One library user can have a maximum of 20 interlibrary loans at a time. Losing your library privileges prevents ordering interlibrary loans.
Interlibrary loans must be renewed and returned on time. If you have an overdue interlibrary loan, you cannot order new interlibrary loans until you have returned or renewed your overdue interlibrary loans.

We follow the national interlibrary loan guidelines and regulations.
The Oulu City Library is not responsible for the condition of the items received as interlibrary loans.
The delivery time for interlibrary loans varies depending on the availability of the material, postal delivery, and other factors, and therefore we cannot guarantee that the loan will arrive within a short period of time.

Fees

Interlibrary loans have an interlibary loan fee of 2 €.

We order interlibrary loans primarily from libraries that send the material free of charge. Some of the sender libraries charge a fee of 1–15 €. If the total price of the interlibrary loan exceeds the handling fee of 2 €, the library will be in touch with you before ordering.

By submitting an interlibrary loan request through the form, you agree to pay the interlibrary loan fee of 2 €. Interlibrary loan fees are paid as they are picked up from your library of choice. If the pick-up library does not have a register, the fees are added to your library card.

Remember to cancel your ILL order if you have placed the order but you no longer need the title. You can cancel your order by notifying the library. If an interlibrary loan has already been ordered and has been delivered by the sender library, you have to pay for the interlibrary loan you ordered. Interlibrary loan fees will also be charged for loans that have not been picked up.
If the order is cancelled before it has been sent from the sender library, there is no need to pay for the loan.

Loan periods and renewals

The library which lends us the material determines the loan period and the amount of renewals. Renewing interlibrary loans is free of charge.

You are responsible for returning or sending a renewal request before on on the due date.

You can send a renewal request using the online form (requires a library card and PIN. In Finnish, form in English will be available in January 2026).

If you are unable to use the online form, please e-mail the library at kaukopalvelu@ouka.fi.
Music interlibrary loans are renewed by the music department at the Karjasilta Library: karjasilta.kirjasto@ouka.fi, tel. +358 8 558 47352.

Other library users might place a hold on the item which in turn prevents renewals.

Picking up and returning interlibrary loans

You can choose your preferred local Oulu City Library as the pick-up library when you submit an interlibrary loan order. Interlibrary loans cannot be picked up during library self-service hours.

You will see the due date of the interlibrary loan on the message you receive when the loan is ready to be picked up.

Interlibrary loans can be returned to any local Oulu City Library. Please remember to keep the receipt you receive with the interlibrary loan and return it along with the item.