Who can use RACER?
The service is available to following members with a valid library/One card:
- TMU Students
- TMU Faculty and Staff Members (Including Contract/Part time faculty and staff)
- Research Assistants, Graduate /Teaching Assistants
- Faculty Emerita/Emeritus
This service is not extended to:
- Alumni and Retirees
- George Brown & Centennial Users
Please note that interlibrary loan is available through the GBC Academic Resource Centre in the Sally Horsfall Eaton Centre for faculty, staff and students of George Brown College’s – Early Childhood Studies program. - Affiliated & External Borrowers
Check TMU Library Resources First!
Please check the Library Catalogue or the Full-Text Periodical Titles List before submitting an Interlibrary Loan request. For assistance, please ask at the Reference desk (416-979-5055, Option 3).
Materials not available on Interlibrary Loan via RACER
Books that are held by the TMU Library, even if currently in use, on hold, loan or on Reserve, cannot be requested through ILL. Missing/lost & billed, and damaged books can be requested through ILL. Ebooks, DVDs and Films are not available through Interlibrary Loan (RACER).
Note: If you are requesting media (films, videos, etc.) please refer to our Audio Visual page or email libmedia@torontomu.ca
Other items that cannot be borrowed include reference materials, patents, technical reports and standards, maps, vertical file items, computer disks or CD ROMs, music CDs and DVDs, rare items or those held in the lending library’s Special Collections, loose-leaf formats, material in high demand, and entire issues of magazines and periodicals.
Cost of Interlibrary Loan
The Interlibrary Loan service is available free of charge to TMU faculty, students and staff. Although the Library covers the cost of interlibrary fees for patrons, there are exceptions. Staff will contact patrons when these exceptions apply.
Requesting a Loan
RACER is the Interlibrary loan requesting system. If you have never used RACER before, then you first register (one time only). Please complete one form for each item. Phone number and e-mail address are required. The Library will process only 10 requests from the same user per week.
Please enter all your interlibrary loan requests using RACER. Unfortunately we cannot accept requests via email.
Copyright
All materials requested are subject to conditions specified in copyright regulations and licensing agreements with publishers.
The Library reserves the right to refuse to process a request if it violates copyright and licensing conditions.
Request Turnaround Times
The time for materials to arrive may vary, depending on the availability, location and delivery mechanism of the lending library.
Journal articles: a few working days to two weeks.
Books: a week or more.
International requests may take longer.
Please submit your requests well in advance and request only materials needed for research.
Notification and Pick-up
You will receive an e-mail from racer@torontomu.ca when your materials have arrived.
Please make sure racer@torontomu.ca is added to your contacts or ‘safe’ list.
If you forward your TMU email to a personal account, please make sure racer@torontomu.ca has been added there too.
Books: Items must be picked up at the Circulation desk, Library 2nd floor. Please bring your valid library/One Card.
When picking up a book, please note that the book will be checked out to your valid library/One card.
Journal articles: In most cases you will receive an email from racer@torontomu.ca explaining how to access your article link electronically.
Sometimes a format or other restriction may require that a print copy be placed at our usual pick-up location at the Circulation desk, Library 2nd floor.
Return of Interlibrary Loan Materials
Please return all Interlibrary loan books to the Circulation desk (NOT the book drop) by the due date. Loan periods are generally 3 weeks; however, some items may be due earlier. The due date will be indicated on a slip with the item.
Items may be recalled before the due date by the lending library. An email will notify patrons of this recall. If patrons fail to return recall items, a fine will be levied by the lending library and transferred to your TMU Library account
Fines and Lost Materials
Fines and /or suspension of interlibrary loan privileges are applicable if items are returned after their due date.
Failure to return books will result in the eventual loss of borrowing privileges and marks will be withheld by the University.
Lost materials will result in a replacement fee charged to the patrons library account.