Suggesting a book for purchase
We welcome recommendations for new purchases. Please complete a form for each suggestion, including as many details as you can.
FAQS
- How can I suggest a book, journal or database?
- Who can suggest a book, journal or database?
- How many suggestions can I make?
- Will Library Services buy every title I suggest?
- How long will it take for the book to arrive?
- How will I know when the book is ready to borrow?
- What if you can't get my book?
- Can I suggest purchasing more copies of a book which is on loan?
- What should I do if I need urgent access to a journal or database that you cannot buy?
Complete a resource suggestion form for each title you’d like to suggest, entering as many details as you can about the resource.
All Imperial students, researchers and staff are able to suggest a book, journal or database for purchase, including NHS staff.
You may suggest as many titles as you would like, however Library Services has a limited budget.
All suggestions all considered for purchase, if your suggestion is ineligible, we will inform you via email. In some cases, Document Delivery may be a more appropriate option.
As new subscriptions to journals and databases require an ongoing annual financial commitment, we are often unable to invest in new journals and databases due to having a limited budget. If this is the case your Subject Librarian can work with you to find the information that you need in material that we already have access to.
Our estimated delivery schedule is:
- E-books: 1-3 days
- Print books: up to 4 weeks
- Journals and databases: at least 6 months
If you need a book or article from a journal urgently, please contact the Document Delivery as this might be quicker.
Library Services will contact you via email.
If we can't get your requested item, we will let your subject librarian know and they will contact you to see if we can help by sourcing an alternative copy or getting you access to the resources you need via Document Delivery.
Yes. We will consider purchasing additional copies of titles which are in high demand.
You can also request a book which is on loan or at another campus.
Contact your subject librarian about this, it's likely that they will be able to find what you need in other resources that we already hold.
They will also be able to suggest how else you might get access to what you need.