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Ordering articles
A guide to ordering journal articles and other material from the library's collections using the document delivery service.
Ordering journal articles from the RCS Library
Are you?
- From a health, charity or academic library?
- A Member or Affiliate of the College?
Then you can order articles from our collection, using our document delivery service. Please go to the appropriate section to read more:
Libraries
Health, charity and academic libraries in the UK can request articles required for a non-commercial purpose from our journal collection, as long as they participate in the British Library's document delivery scheme. We use the British Library scheme to reclaim the charges for our service. Please read our Service Level Agreement for full details of eligibility, copyright requirements and procedures. Libraries using the service to order material will be deemed to have accepted this agreement.
Step 1
Please check the library catalogue, or our journals holding list to ascertain that we hold the journal. Please remember that we cannot supply more than one article from any one issue of a journal at any one time, as this contravenes copyright law.
Step 2
Download our order form template and complete the details. Please note we need your British Library account number and a request number for each request, in order to process your order.
Step 3
Email the completed form to ill@rcseng.ac.uk. We will then supply the material or contact you if there are any problems.
Service levels and costs
Normal requests:
You can make up to 6 requests per day, for articles less than 20 pages in length. We will deliver your requests within 2 working days. The cost per article will be £4.00+VAT.
Special requests:
If you have special requirements, such as needing the material more quickly, or want to order an article that is longer than 20 pages, please refer to our Service Level Agreement. We will advise on costs at the time of request.
Individuals
- Please check the library catalogue, or our journals holding list to ascertain that we hold the journal or book. Please remember that we cannot supply more than one article from any one issue of a journal, or make more than one copy of an article, as these contravene copyright law.
- Print out, complete and sign our photocopy request and copyright declaration form (available by emailing the library). We need to receive a copyright declaration to be able to provide photocopies for non-commercial research or private study. Please provide full contact details, including a telephone number and/or email address, and your College membership details.
If you need to make more than three requests, another copy of the form should be printed out, completed and signed for these, and so on in multiples of three. (An order can consist of as many forms as are required as long as each has the signed copyright declaration that relates to the articles on that form.) - This form should also be used to provide your payment details.
Credit/Debit Card: We accept most credit/debit cards with the exception of American Express. We will not process the payment until we have supplied the photocopy, and you will receive a receipt with the item.
Invoices: Because of the costs involved in invoicing, there is a minimum charge of £10.00 per invoice. Please indicate if you would prefer to be invoiced, giving details as appropriate. - Fax your completed and signed form to the library: 020 7405 4438. Alternatively, send by post: Document Delivery, The Library, The Royal College of Surgeons of England, 35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE.
Please note that you cannot at present return scanned copies of the form by email. - If you wish to use either the Same day or Urgent service, please telephone the library beforehand (020 7869 6511 or 6556), or fax your request as above with the required service level clearly marked. All unspecified requests will be treated as Standard.
- Photocopies will be sent on receipt of the signed copyright declaration, in accordance with the service level specified. No responsibility will be accepted for events out of our control such as postal strikes or non-delivery.
Non-members should contact the library before submitting any request, as the service is offered to non-members on a discretionary basis.
