Scanning Services for NC State Patrons

The Libraries offers a free scanning and digital delivery service for NC State students, staff, faculty, and University affiliates. Through Interlibrary Services, we’ll scan and send articles or book chapters from items in our own collections, including all branch libraries.

Turnaround time: Usually 1 business day, but requests for multiple scans may take longer.

What can you request?

Material typeCan I request a scan?What to know
Book chapter

Yes!

Request a scan of a book chapter

  • Students, faculty, staff, and Friends of the Library: Up to 3 chapters per book, depending on book length. Submit a separate request for each chapter.
  • Non-NC State users: You can request scans from the Libraries' collections for a fee. We cannot request scans from other libraries for non-NC State users.
Textbook or Reserve itemIt depends →
  • Students: You can’t request a scan, sorry—but scanners are available in the Libraries for personal use.
  • Faculty & instructors: We can scan 1–3 chapters, depending on book length. For more extensive needs, consider requesting an ebook purchase or email library_reserves@ncsu.edu.
Article from print journal, magazine, or microfilm

Yes!

Request a scan of an article

  • Submit a separate request for each article.
  • Got a lot of citations? Upload them in bulk instead of submitting separate requests
  • Microfilm self-service option: microform reader machines are available for browsing reels.

Who can request a scan? How much does it cost?

NC State affiliates

This service is free for all current NC State faculty, staff, students, and official university affiliates.

Friends of the Libraries members

The Libraries will scan up to 30 articles per year, per Friends of the Library member, for free.

Log into Interlibrary Services to place your request. Select "Other library patrons" from the dropdown menu on the login page. (Friends of the Libraries members need to use the forms on this page, rather than the forms found on other parts of our website.)

Non-NC State users

If you are unaffiliated with NC State, you can register, view fees, and place requests

How to make a request

  1. Log into Interlibrary Services
  2. Select either Article or Book Chapter
  3. Fill out the request form with as much detail as possible.

How you’ll receive material you request

Scanned items will be in a searchable PDF format (OCR-enabled).

You’ll receive an email with a secure link to download your files when they’re ready.

Need an accessible format? To request alternative formats or accessible PDFs, contact us at library_ils@ncsu.edu. In some cases, we may coordinate with the Disability Resources Office to obtain accessible alternatives.

Copyright and use

Due to copyright and administrative restrictions we can only offer scanning of reasonable and limited portions of works. In most cases we can only scan a book chapter or two or a journal article or two.

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be 'used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship or research.' If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of 'fair use,' that user may be liable for copyright infringement. NC State University Libraries reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.

NC State University Libraries’ Open Knowledge Center

Questions?

Contact Interlibrary Services:

  • Phone: 919-515-2116

Email: library_ils@ncsu.edu

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