Digital Library on Demand service FAQ

What is Digital Library on Demand (DLD)?

DLD is an electronic document delivery service which enables you to obtain scans of book chapters or journal articles from our collections without having to visit the library in person.

What material can I request from Digital Library on Demand?

You can request books, journals and pamphlets from the library collections held at BFI Southbank and the BFI Conservation Centre that are eligible for scanning.

Why are some materials eligible for DLD and others not?

Some items are unsuited to scanning because they are old, fragile, or rare, or they are in a format that cannot be scanned. Where available, microform surrogates will be used for this service, so as to preserve our original paper copies which are kept off-site at the Conservation Centre.

Does this mean I’m no longer able to use the physical item itself?

In some cases, yes. This is dependent on the condition and the size of the item. A proportion of materials held at the Conservation Centre are either too large or too fragile to be physically transported to London.

However, you can still order the majority of items to be delivered to the reading room for you to consult in person. DLD simply offers a convenient alternative to ordering and scanning these items yourself.

I use the BFI Reuben Library but I’d also like to use the Digital Library on Demand service. Can I?

Yes. The DLD service is available to everyone.

Can I request copies of the BFI Reuben Library’s Press Cuttings collection?

Digital press cuttings are not eligible for the DLD service, for reasons of copyright. Press cuttings files may only be viewed in the library’s reading room.

Can I request material from the BFI’s Special Collections to be scanned?

Special Collections material is not covered by the DLD service.

Placing a DLD request

May I submit a request for an entire book or multiple chapters/articles?

You may only request up to one chapter or article from a book or journal, under the Copyright Licensing Agency’s Fair Dealing rules. (See section 6 on the CLA’s factsheet about using the works of others.)

Why do I need the exact reference before I submit a request?

The DLD service is not a research service. We require as full a reference as possible to enable us to find and process your request in reasonable time. If we are unable to locate your item, we will contact you to ask for further information.

Can I request a high-resolution or colour scan via DLD?

As standard, DLD delivers scans in black and white PDF at 150 dpi for research access purposes only. Should you require a high resolution scan for publication purposes, please contact the DLD team directly and we can discuss your requirements further.

How many requests may I submit?

The maximum limit is five requests each time you want to use the service. If you exceed this limit in one transaction, we will only process the first five requests received.

How can I track my request?

When the request has been dealt with you will receive an email status update with details of how to collect your scan, or a request for clarification of your requirements, or a rejection notification.

Payment

How much does the service cost?

Each item requested for scanning is charged at a flat rate of £5, inclusive of VAT.

Why are you charging so much when I can get the item delivered to the reading room for free?

The BFI Reuben Library is obliged to charge for the full cost of producing the copy according to the governing legislation: Library Privilege as defined in Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, sections 37-40 and SI 1989/1212 requirements. And section 39, part 2 (c).

How do I pay for DLD?

Once we have verified that we can honour your requests we will email you to confirm, with a link to the secure payment form on the BFI website. Payment may be made by credit/debit card. You will need to register on the BFI website before your payment details can be entered.

Collecting your DLD request

How will I know when my request is ready?

Your scan will be posted on a server and you will receive an email including a link to the scan for you to access.

How long will my request(s) take?

The DLD service will aim to fulfil your scanning request within five working days from receipt of payment. Please note that this turnaround time does not account for weekends or any public holidays.

How long will my request stay on the PDF server?

Your request will remain on the server for 3 days.

I deleted my PDF but I really need to look at it again. Do I have to re-request it?

There is a 14-day grace period for deleted requests – if you need us to restore your article please contact us as soon as you are able.

My scan is missing some pages, the quality is poor and/or the file size is huge. How do I fix this?

Contact digital.library@bfi.org.uk and they will investigate and resend the scan if necessary.

What happens if you can’t complete my request?

Our scanning team will contact you with the reason and suggestions to help the request be fulfilled. You will not be charged until the material has been assessed suitable for scanning.

Copyright restrictions

Is it okay if I post the PDF to a webpage to share with my students, classmates or colleagues?

Your DLD request is for individual research use only and may not be shared, distributed, or posted elsewhere online. The ordering process includes a copyright declaration which requires your signed agreement before the request can proceed.

Further information

You have not answered my question – where can I go to find out more?

For more information email the DLD team at digital.library@bfi.org.uk.

What are the conditions of use for this service?

Please see the DLD terms and conditions.