Tripsaver Interlibrary Loan FAQ

As part of our Tripsaver service, the NC State University Libraries borrows materials that are not available in the Libraries from other libraries and digital delivery vendors. This includes materials not owned by the Libraries as well as items that are checked out, lost, or missing. There is no charge for this service.

Am I eligible?

NC State faculty, staff, registered students and Centennial Campus partners may use this service.

What can I request?

We will try to obtain almost any type of library material. However, A/V materials, whole journal volumes, genealogical sources, unpublished manuscripts, and materials that are rare, fragile, or in high demand are often hard to get. Please include as many details as possible in your request to improve our chances of borrowing it.

You can request print textbooks or items that are on reserve, but these items may be difficult for us to find, or the loan period may be shorter than the semester. Requesting an older edition of the book you need may make it easier for us to find.

How do I place a request?

First, check the NC State University Libraries by resource type. If you need help with your search, the Libraries offers several ways for you to get in touch with us. 

If NC State does not have the material you need, login to Tripsaver to place a request. 

How do I cancel a request?

If you decide you do not need the item you requested, please email library_tripsaver@ncsu.edu to let us know. 

How long will it take?

Plan ahead when requesting materials. Books and other physical materials (like DVDs) available at UNC Chapel Hill, NC Central, or Duke should be available to pickup within 2 working days. Other interlibrary loan requests take 5 to 10 working days, depending on the difficulty of the request and the location of the lending library.

Article and book chapter requests are delivered as PDFs to your email and take approximately 1 working day. 

What if I'm in a hurry?

We always fill requests as quickly as possible, but we can work with you to find an alternate format, edition, or resource more quickly if needed.

For urgent requests, you can call us weekdays 8am-5pm at 919-515-2116. If the Tripsaver office is closed, email library_tripsaver@ncsu.edu and go ahead and place a request using the online request form and mark it "rush" or "urgent" in the comments field.

Where do I pick up my materials?

Books may be picked up at Hill, Hunt or one of the three branch libraries. Articles and most other photocopied materials will be delivered electronically to your email. Materials on microform (microfilm, microfiche and microprints) are for library use only, these will be held for you at Hill or Hunt Library.

How much does it cost?

There is no charge for this service. However, late fees, recall fees and replacement costs for lost books all apply.

How do I return materials?

You can return materials to Hill, Hunt or one of the three branch libraries. Please do not return them directly to the lending institution.

How do I renew something if I need to keep it longer? 

If an item has a renewal available, you can request a renewal via My Account, which will allow you to keep the item longer than the original due date. The library that lent us the item must approve the request. When you request a renewal, we add 7 days to the due date of the item to give the library time to respond. If your renewal is granted, you will receive an email with the new due date. If it is not granted, you will receive an email letting you know you need to return the item. 

If there are no renewals available on the item, you can email library_tripsaver@ncsu.edu and request a new copy of the item. We will place a new request on your behalf. 

What happens if I don’t return an interlibrary loan item on time? 

When an item is 30 days overdue, your interlibrary loan privileges will be blocked and the library that lent us the item will consider it lost. You will be charged a fee of $125 or more for a lost item replacement, depending on the cost from the lending library. There are no daily fines for overdue interlibrary loan items.