← Back to all policies
Interlibrary Loan Policy
PURPOSE
The Fountaindale Public Library provides interlibrary loan services in order to provide patron access to library resources that are not available in our library. Materials are borrowed from other libraries outside of our district and we provide materials from our collections to other libraries. Use of this service is governed by the policy established by the Library Board of Trustees and any applicable rules or regulations adopted by the Library. The Executive Director as the executor of the policy for the Board of Trustees has discretion in determining what use is “in the best interest of the library” and is authorized to act accordingly, including limiting the use of circulating items by individuals whose activities interfere with Library operations, adversely affect public safety or cause public disturbances. The Board of Trustees may modify, amend or supplement this policy, as it deems necessary and appropriate.
BORROWING GUIDELINES FOR PATRONS
ELIGIBLE USERS
Interlibrary loan is available to anyone with a library card in good standing from Fountaindale Public Library and Pinnacle Library Cooperative libraries that agree to the provision of these services outside of their home library.
We do not accept school cards for Interlibrary Loan requests.
Reciprocal borrowers need to go to their home library for ILL services.
TYPICAL TIME FOR FULFILLMENT
The Interlibrary Loan process can typically take 2-6 weeks for materials to arrive. Materials that are being borrowed from outside Illinois take longer to arrive. It is not unusual for materials to take several weeks when coming from other states. The library cannot guarantee the availability of materials or how quickly they may arrive.
COST
There is no fee to request Interlibrary Loan materials. There are libraries that do charge fees to loan their materials. There may also be charges for photocopies. If that is the case, Fountaindale staff members will notify the person placing the request to determine whether they would still like to borrow the item and pay the fees.
LIMITATIONS
The following materials are not available through Interlibrary Loan:
- Materials that have been published in the past 12 months
- Textbooks
- Digital materials (For example: eBooks, eAudiobooks)
- Entire issues of magazines
- Video games
- VHS movies
- Books on Cassette
- Kits
- LP albums
- Computer software
- Items owned and/or on order by a Pinnacle library unless they are Lost or Missing
Requests for materials for book discussion groups need to be identified when the ILL request is made. The date of the discussion should be included on the request.
ILL staff will attempt to borrow requested materials available at libraries located within the United States or Canada.
NUMBER OF REQUESTS ALLOWED PER PERSON
Each cardholder is limited to 5 requests a day. The maximum number of active requests at any one time is 35.
PATRON RESPONSIBILITIES
The label or paperwork that accompany Interlibrary Loan material must be returned with the item. The cardholder may be charged for the material or for overdue fines if the paperwork is not with the item.
Material must be picked up and returned to the Fountaindale Public Library, its Bookmobile and its book drops but not to any other library. Overdue fines may be charged if material is returned to another library.
Materials borrowed through Interlibrary Loan should be picked up within five days of notification. If materials are not picked up on a regular basis, Interlibrary Loan privileges may be suspended.
If a cardholder regularly does not return Interlibrary Loan materials on their due dates or otherwise abuses this Interlibrary Loan Policy, Interlibrary Loan privileges may be suspended.
Cardholders and associated accounts may not re-request the same item more than three times in a 12 month period.
NOTIFICATION METHODS
If there are any questions about a request we will attempt to contact the cardholder according to the information in the cardholder’s library account.
When Interlibrary Loan materials arrive, the cardholder will be notified according to the information in the cardholder’s library account.
LOAN PERIOD & RENEWALS
The loan period for Interlibrary Loan materials is based upon the loan period given by the lending library. Typically loan periods are seven days for feature movies and three weeks for other items. ILL items do count toward any limits established for cardholders.
The lending library may impose restrictions on loans that may include using the material in our library only or not allowing photocopying.
Renewals on Interlibrary Loan materials can only be requested from Interlibrary Loan staff before the due date. Specific titles of items need to be provided. Interlibrary Loan staff will contact the lending library to make the request for renewal. There is no guarantee that the lending library will allow a renewal. There is a maximum of one renewal available. Overdue items will not be renewed.
FINES AND OVERDUE ITEMS
Overdue fines will be charged for material returned past the due date. These fines can be found in Appendix 2 of the Fountaindale Public Library Circulation Policy.
Individuals who have overdue items may have ILL privileges suspended until the item is returned and/or account charges are paid.
BILLED, LOST AND DAMAGED ITEMS
Material that is not returned, is lost or is damaged will result in fines and fees. These fines and fees are determined by the owning library. Replacement copies will not be accepted; the cardholder will pay for the replacement of the material.
No refunds are available for Interlibrary Loan material.
LENDING GUIDELINES FOR OTHER LIBRARIES
ELIGIBLE LIBRARIES
The library reserves the right to reject requests not in compliance with national and state interlibrary loan codes. We will loan items to libraries located within the United States or Canada.
HOW TO REQUEST
Requests may be submitted electronically using OCLC WorldShare. ALA forms or equivalents will be accepted by mail, fax or email.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Interlibrary Loan
Fountaindale Public Library
300 W. Briarcliff Road
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
Phone: 630.685.4177
Fax: 630.759.9314
Email: ill@fountaindale.org
TYPICAL RESPONSE TIME
Assuming item and staff availability, loans and faxes will be sent within 48 hours. Requests received after 4 p.m. or on a weekend will be treated as if received at 9 a.m. on the next work day (Monday–Friday). Notification of unavailability of requested materials will be made according to the same guidelines.
COST
We do not charge for loans, scans or photocopies.
LIMITATIONS
The following materials are not available through Interlibrary Loan:
- Materials that have been published in the last 12 months
- Reference materials including local history materials
- Entire issues of magazines
- Digital materials (For example: eBooks and eAudiobooks)
- Video games
Photocopy requests must comply with current copyright laws. A maximum of 20 pages will be provided.
DELIVERY METHODS
Materials will be sent by courier within Illinois and by mail or UPS outside of Illinois. Photocopy requests can be mailed, faxed or emailed.
LOAN PERIOD & RENEWALS
The standard loan period for all materials is 6 weeks.
Any item that is not on hold for another patron may be renewed once for an additional loan period. If the item is on hold for another patron, it must be returned before another request to borrow can be made.
OVERDUE ITEMS
A library’s borrower account with overdue items may have ILL privileges suspended until the item is returned and/or account charges are paid.
OVERDUE, BILLED, LOST AND DAMAGED ITEMS
Material that is not returned, is lost or is damaged will result in a replacement fee based upon the cost of the material at the time it was purchased. Identical replacement copies may be considered in lieu of a replacement fee.
FAILURE TO COMPLY
Fountaindale Public Library District staff reserves the right to invalidate a library account and to grant temporary extensions of account privileges in appropriate circumstances.
DAMAGES AND LIABILITY
Any individual shall be held responsible for willful or accidental damage to Interlibrary Loan materials caused by the individual and/or when checked out to their account or accounts for which they are responsible.
APPEAL AND REVIEW
The Board of Trustees of the Fountaindale Public Library District will review the Interlibrary Loan Policy and regulations periodically and reserves the right to amend them at any time. The Board authorizes the Executive Director to waive regulations under appropriate circumstances. The Executive Director is the chief person empowered to make decisions regarding the circulation of items and procedures as related to lending and borrowing. The Executive Director has delegated authority to implement this policy to the Collection Management and Technical Services Manager.
Any appeals for changes to, or exceptions to, any portion of the Interlibrary Loan Policy will be considered. An individual wishing to file an appeal shall submit it to the Executive Director in writing. The Executive Director will respond in writing.