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Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) - Details

If you are an NIC student or faculty member and you can't find the article or book you are looking for at the NIC library, you can make a request to borrow the item from other BC Libraries using our Interlibrary Loan service. 

  • Interlibrary Loan request items MUST support your research or studies at NIC.

  • Articles usually arrive within 3-5 business days and are emailed directly to your NIC email account from TitanFile.  Learn more about TitanFile, including troubleshooting tips, here.

  • Books usually arrive within 10 business days and are available for pick-up at the NIC Library campus you ordered from.

  • Books have a 3-week loan period and are not eligible for renewal.

  • The late fee for Interlibrary Loan books is $1.00 per day. Students with more than $5.00 in library fines will be blocked from placing interlibrary loan requests.

  • Reference books, required textbooks, and fiction books are not available through Interlibrary Loan.

Please note: If you'd like to borrow library materials from another NIC campus, click on "Place Hold" underneath the item title in the NIC Library Catalogue. 

How to Order Articles

To request a magazine or journal article unavailable through the NIC databases follow these steps:

  1. Click on thelink located below the article information on the search results page.
  2. Now click on the link.
  3. A form will open; fill out the required fields, and click submit. 

You will be notified via your NIC email address once the article is available for download. 

For a list of available databases, visit A-Z Databases.

Article Delivery System - TitanFile

The NIC Library safely delivers online Interlibrary Loan (ILL) articles using TitanFile, a secure file sharing system. After you place your ILL, you will receive an email with a link to a PDF version of the article you requested.

  • If you don't see an email from TitanFile and it's been a few days since your request was placed, be sure to check your junk folder. If you plan on ordering multiple ILLs, add TitanFile to you address book to avoid emails being sent to your junk mailbox.
  • TitanFile may not work with some browsers. If you can't open your PDF, try using Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Safari or Firefox.
  • Remember, wireless downloading can take a while and some files may be quite large.
  • IMPORTANT: TitanFile download links expire two weeks after they are sent. Once you download the PDF, it is yours to keep.
  • If your link has expired before you were able to download it, please contact the library @ 250-334-5037. 

Visit the link below for more information about TitanFile.

How to Order Books NOT available at NIC

If you'd like to request a book not found in the NIC Library collection, you can search academic and public libraries across the province using Illume.

View a quick video tutorial on how to place a book request or follow the steps below.

Follow these steps to request an item through Illume:

  1. Search for books using the search bar at the top of the screen
  2. Click on the "Request this Item" button
  3. Fill out the ILL request form
  4. Click submit

To start searching the Illume database, select the link below that corresponds with your campus: 

Comox Valley Campbell River
Port Alberni Mixalakwila

Please note: This service is NOT compatible with Internet Explorer.

When your book arrives you will be notified by telephone or via your NIC email address. Books can be picked up and returned at the circulation desk.