Delays and Cancellations in Document Delivery – Coronavirus Limits Interlibrary Loans

More and more providers and suppliers are interrupting work due to the coronavirus outbreak.

[Update 18.03.2020] Basic Operations in the Central Library from 19 March to 10 May – Use Our Online Services [/Update 18.03.2020]

17 March 2020

The usual ordering of books via interlibrary loan is no longer possible starting immediately. Delays and cancellations are already affecting the delivery of articles. Unfortunately, further restrictions are to be expected.
Naturally, we are making use of all possible alternatives, but we can no longer guarantee successful document delivery.

Any outstanding book and article orders affected by the restrictions will remain on record and be fulfilled once regular operations are restored at the relevant providers and libraries. If you do not wish this automatism to be put in place, e.g. if you need the literature immediately and not at an indeterminable later point in time, please leave us a comment in your literature request.
Literature Request

Background information:

The federal states’ and districts’ measures for social distancing are increasingly restricting the work of libraries. Many of our suppliers for interlibrary loans and orders of printed books and articles are reducing their services or ceasing their interlibrary loans and document delivery entirely. It is currently not possible to say when these measures will be lifted.
Robert Koch Institute – Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 – Options for social distancing measures (3 March 2020) (in German)
“bibliothekarisch.de” blog – Corona and libraries – Closures and service limitations (2020) (in German)

Your contacts at ZB:

Tel: 5373
Email: ZB-Auskunft
Document Delivery team