Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is the process libraries use to borrow items from other libraries when the needed item is not in their own collection. In general, it will not be available for items for which Lamar Public Library has a copy currently checked out to another user.
Eligible Borrowers
ILL is available to any library user who has been issued a current Lamar Public Library card and is in good standing.
Request Restrictions
Some types of materials are not available for lending by other libraries and, consequently, may not be requested via ILL. These will be set by the Library Director.
Copyright Compliance
The Lamar Public Library complies with Federal copyright law and National Commission on New Technological Uses of Copyrighted Works (CONTU) guidelines.
Circulation of ILL Material
Loan Period: Lending periods are at the discretion of the lending library. Patrons will have use of the item for one week less than the due date noted on the paperwork from the lending library to ensure the items can be processed and returned to the lending library on time.
Renewals: Library patrons are encouraged to return materials at the end of the initial loan period so that materials are not absent from the lending library for an unreasonable length of time. Renewals are only permitted if the lending library allows such an extension. Requests to renew an item must be submitted two days in advance of the due date for the item. If the request is not made two days in advance, the materials must be returned and may not be renewed.
Borrowing Fees and Overdue Fines
Agreement to Accept Charges from Lending Libraries: Library patrons are responsible for any charges applied by the lending library including photocopy charges, or fees for damaged or lost materials. Library staff will make every effort to notify the library patron as to any fees that will be assessed by the lending library. If lending charges are not paid at the time the materials are picked up, they will be attached to the patron’s circulation record and handled in the same manner as fines and other charges.
Overdue Fines and Charges for Damaged or Lost Materials: The Library patron is also responsible for any charges assessed by the lending library for damage to an ILL material, not reported or recorded at checkout. If an ILL material is lost, the library patron will be responsible for the cost of the material, plus a non-refundable processing fee of up to $10.00.
Lending Materials to Other Library
Lending Charges: There will be no charge to other libraries to borrow materials from the Lamar Public Library’s collection, nor will charges be assessed for overdue items. If a material is not returned by the borrowing library to the Lamar Public Library, the borrowing library is responsible for the replacement cost of the item as well as a non-refundable processing fee of up to $10.00.
Loan Period: Lamar Public Library materials will be lent to other libraries for 5 weeks. Renewals may be granted if the material has not been placed on hold for a Lamar Public Library patron.
Format of Requests that will be Accepted: In order to facilitate processing of ILL requests, the library will only accept requests submitted through the SWIFT computer-based system.
Materials that will be Lent to Requesting Libraries: In order to ensure that local Lamar Public patrons have access to the latest materials, the following items will not be loaned via ILL:
- Books published within the last year
- Books with long reserve lists
- Materials designated as “high demand”
- Software
- Reference material (i.e. Directories, encyclopedia sets, indexes, standard library reference tools)
- Bound or current issues of magazines and newspapers
- Rare, archival manuscript or fragile materials.