Requesting materials for Distance Users

Submitting requests via the Document Delivery request form

If you know the item you need:

• Access your Dalhousie Libraries' Document Delivery account.
• Log into your account.
  
• User Login is your NetID (the part of your Dal email address before the @ symbol).
  
• Password is you NetID (email) password.
  
• Select the type of request that you want to submit: Copy, Borrow or Book Chapter. Fill in the form and submit the request.
• If you are unable to log in to the form, please check with the  Document Delivery Staff.

Submitting Requests via Get It @ Dal

Citations in the Dalhousie Library databases include this Get it @ Dal link:. Use this link to access an electronic copy of the material (if available), or to request the item via Document Delivery. Log in to the Document Delivery form as described above. The information about the material you need will be filled-in automatically on the request form.

Submitting Requests from the Library Catalogue

• Log into your account using the Sign In link.  Conduct your search to find a specific item by title, or to find information on your topic.
• When you have found something you want to order from another library click on the citation.
  
• Via the How to Get It box in the open citation, use the “Resource Sharing” link to submit requests for items found in the catalogue. The request form will be automatically filled in for you.
  

If you are living in Nova Scotia you can use your Dalhousie ID Card to sign out items held at any  Novanet library (see list).

Direct Borrowing from a nearby Canadian university library:

If you are living near a non-Novanet Canadian university library, you may be able to borrow material held at that library by using your Dalhousie ID and your CAAL card.
See this list of participating libraries.

Within Canada:

• Dalhousie and other Canadian library items are delivered directly to you: articles electronically to your Dalhousie email, loans via courier.
• Delivery of material held in non-Canadian libraries is not available.

Outside of Canada:

• Due to location, available delivery options or excessive cost, delivery of Dalhousie books may not be possible outside of Canada
• Delivery outside of Canada of non-Dalhousie books is not available to Distance users.
• Articles will be delivered electronically to your Dalhousie email.

Delivery time

Delivery times vary depending on the type of item you are requesting, the location of the supplying library and the delivery method. If you need an item by a specific date please select a "need by date" on the request form. It is costly to obtain material, so prior to submitting requests please ensure that you will have time to use any returnable items when they arrive.

• Articles usually take 1 to 3 business days.
• Books can take 3 days to 1 month.

Electronic delivery

Articles/copies are delivered electronically to your registered Dalhousie email address. Each email includes a link to the article.

• The link can be opened only once.
• The link will be available for 14 days after receipt. 

Returning material

There is no charge to Dalhousie Distance users for delivery or return of material.
You are responsible for returning materials by the due date.
Please use the return address label provided for you.
Please do not remove the blue document delivery wrapper around an item. 

Renewals

Dalhousie/Novanet items
Loans have been signed out to your library account.
Loans are renewable up to three times if no one else is waiting to use the material.
Login to your Novanet library account to renew Novanet items.

Document Delivery Items
Document delivery loans normally last for three weeks.
Loan periods and renewal options vary.
Blue wrapper around the item indicates the due date and renewal options.
Request a document delivery renewal: contact the department via email or phone 902-494-3612.

Fees and fines

There are no fees for any Dalhousie Library distance services.
Fines will accrue on overdue Dalhousie or Novanet library items and will appear on your monthly library statement.
A $20.00 non-refundable fee will be charged for any Document Delivery item which is not returned after overdue reminders have been sent.
Replacement costs for lost or long overdue items are the responsibility of the requester.
Delinquent borrowers may lose their borrowing privileges.

Payment options:

Cash (in-person), cheque, Visa or Mastercard.

Tracking Document Delivery requests

• Login to the Dalhousie Libraries' Document Delivery request form
• Select All Requests.
• Click on the request you wish to query or use the Query function to search for a request by title, author keyword or request number.
• Once you have the request on the screen you will see a grid of information generated from the document delivery system.
• Look under the Message heading to see if a book has arrived.
• If a book has arrived, the words Document Loaned will appear; for copied material, the words Delivery E-mail or Photocopy - No Scan will appear.
• Contact Document Delivery for assistance in tracking the status of your request.

Cancelling Document Delivery requests

Log in to the Request Form and query the requested item.

• Use the Cancel request function at the bottom of the screen.
• Success in cancelling a request depends upon whether the supplying library has processed the request or not.