Thomas Branigan Memorial Library is pleased to be able to offer its patrons access to a variety of materials via Inter-Library Loan. If you have any questions about the process, or need assistance requesting an item, please ask at the Reference Desk or call the ILL Clerk during regular Library hours at 528-4024.

Thomas Branigan Memorial Library does not charge for ILL service, however, some lending libraries assess a fee for lending materials. Be prepared to pay up to $25.00 each for ILL requests, although prices vary from institution to institution. The ILL staff makes every effort to borrow from non-charging institutions.

Certain materials cannot be borrowed via ILL:

• Recently published titles (for example, in 2006, we cannot request books published in 2006)
• Media (we will not request DVDs, VHS, cassettes or CDs)
• Reference books (including genealogy)
• Rare or archival items
  

Inter-Library Loan Rules

1. Any patron posessing a valid TBML card may request materials from other libraries. The following limitations apply:
   
   • You cannot have any blocks on your account
   • You must have less than $5.00 in fines
     
     
2. Requests may take up to 6 weeks to fill. Please keep the following in mind:
   
   • ILL staff cannot estimate arrival dates once the request is in process.
     
   • The ILL staff processes all requests in the order recieved.
     
   • The ILL staff selects the best possible lending library in order to obtain the item quickly. To that end, the staff stays mainly within the continental United States. Please keep in mind that the lending library is sometimes very far away and that the ILL staff uses the U.S. Postal System, both of which are factors that might effect timeliness.
     
   • The ILL staff will contact you when your item arrives. In order to expedite the process, please make sure the address and telephone number on your Library account are correct and up-to-date.
     
   • Please do not call the ILL staff to find out when an item will arrive. The staff will contact you if there are any questions or problems.
     
   • If you would like to be notified via e-mail when your ILL request arrives, please be sure that your e-mail address is included on your request and that it is correct. The ILL staff will have to verify that the address is correct and works with our e-mail system. A test may be necessary.
     
     
3. All requests must comply with U.S. Copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) and its accompanying guidelines.
   
   
4. ILL requests are limited; up to 10 items per patron may be in process at one time.
   
   • Items that are considered 'in process' are requests that have been processed, ILL items that are awaiting pick-up, and ILL items that are checked out to the requesting patron.
     
     
5. An item may only be requested twice.
   
   • A title can be requested no more than twice.
     
     • If an item was requested and not picked up, it can only be requested once more.
       
     • If an item came with a short loan time, it can be returned and requested again.
       
     • If a patron needs more time to finish a book and the due date is up, they may return the item and request it once more.
       
       
6. Renewal requests will be accepted up to three working days before the actual due date.
   
   • In order to ensure that the request was received, it is best to call the ILL staff at 528-4024.
     
   • If the request is denied, the item must be returned as soon as possible.
     
     
7. Only one renewal request per item.
   
8. Failure to pick up ILL items on more than two occasions may result in denial of ILL privileges for up to one year. Patrons will receive warning notices.
   
9. The patron is responsible for returning items on time. Failure to comply with this policy on more than two occasions will result in denial of ILL privileges for up to one year.
   
10. All materials are subject to recall. The patron is required to respond immediately if the lending library recalls an item. 
11. Thomas Branigan Memorial Library will suspend ILL service to any patron who fails to comply with the above rules.
    

Instructions

Please follow these instructions to ensure that your request is processed quickly and successfully.

In order to request materials via ILL, you must provide:

• Your Library card number (the 14-digits located on the back of your Library card, underneath the barcode)
• Your name
• Your contact information (current telephone number and address)
• Your e-mail address (if you wish to be notified electronically)
• The maximum amount you are willing to pay for an item. (The maximum most lending institutions charge is $25.00 per item. ILL staff makes every effort to borrow from lending institutions that do not charge any fees)
• The full and correct title of the item you are requesting
• The full and correct name of the author
• The following are not required, but make the process of finding the item easier:
  
  • Publication date
  • ISBN number
    
  • Publisher
    
    
• To request an article from a journal, magazine or newspaper, the following information is required:
  
  • The full and correct title of the article
    
  • The full and correct name of the article's author
  • The full and correct name of the journal, magazine or newspaper
  • The volume number and date
  • The page number

Inter-Library Loan Request Form

• Download Word Document (.doc)
• Download Adobe Acrobat Doument (.pdf)

If you have any problems or questions, please contact either the Reference Desk at 528-4005 or the ILL staff at 528-4025.