InterLibrary Loan ( ILL)

FAQs

• 1. What is Interlibrary Loan?
• 2. Who is eligible for Interlibrary Loan services?
• 3. How do I request material through Interlibrary Loan
• 4. Are there additional costs?
• 5. What is generally not available through Interlibrary Loan?
• 6. How many requests may I submit at a time?
• 7. How long can I keep an item?  Can it be renewed? 
• 8. How long will I have to wait for an item?
• 9. What if I lose or damage a book? 
• 10. Where do I return interlibrary loan materials?

Printable Version of FAQs: WORD [39K] or PDF [65K]

 

1. What is Interlibrary Loan?
Interlibrary Loan is a cooperative service among libraries for obtaining materials not available in local library systems. Items requested are located, ordered, and, if available for loan, shipped by mail or other delivery services to your local library.

Before requesting any material through Interlibrary Loan, check the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Library Catalog to make sure that the material is not owned by any of our 17 libraries . We are only able to request items through interlibrary loan that the library system does not own, even if our copy is for reference only.  If all copies of an item are in “Billed” (long overdue) status, we will process the request.

2. Who is eligible for Interlibrary Loan services? 
Any person who is eligible for a regular (non-limit) Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Library card is eligible for Interlibrary Loan service. Persons with “Limit” status cards may not use the Interlibrary Loan service.

The borrower must first obtain a library card. The card must be current, the account must be in good standing, and the request may only be placed by the person registered for the card. If your library account has any of the following problems, your request will be not be processed until all problems are resolved:

• your card has expired
• money is owed for overdue or lost materials
• your library account address does not match your interlibrary loan request address.

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3. How do I request material through Interlibrary Loan? 
Fill out and sign an Interlibrary Loan application form in person at any library in the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Library System. There is a non-refundable fee of $1.00 per request that must be paid at the time the request is submitted.

• ILL Book Request Form: WORD [28K] or PDF [17.5K]
• ILL Periodical Request Form: WORD [27K] or PDF [20K]
  

4. Are there additional costs?
Some libraries charge for loans and photocopies, however, the library staff follows your instructions for maximum costs from your interlibrary loan request form, including "Free" or "No charge." We make every effort to obtain materials at no cost. If payment is required and you have authorized it, you must pay by check or money order only made payable to the lending institution when you pick up the item. Please write the Interlibrary Loan number on the check or money order to insure proper credit.

5. What is generally not available through Interlibrary Loan?  
Current best sellers and recently published books.  Items in Special Collections.
Genealogical materials -- but libraries will often photocopy indexes or family names.
Compact discs, DVDs, videos, audio books – limited availability (many libraries will not lend). Reference books. Complete issues of periodicals or newspapers -- but libraries will usually photocopy articles (within the copyright law) or lend microforms.

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6. How many requests may I submit at a time? 
You may submit up to three (3) interlibrary loan requests per day. You may have up to ten (10) pending interlibrary loan requests at any one time.

7. How long can I keep an item?  Can it be renewed? 
The loan period for requested items dependsupon the length of time allowed by the lending library, which can vary fromless than a weekto a month or more. The due date will be written on the label attached to the item. Interlibrary loan materials may not be renewed.

8. How long will I have to wait for an item?
The normal process of an ILL request is approximately two to four weeks. If we cannot obtain a requested item, you will receive a cancellation notice by mail or e-mail stating why we could not get it for you.

9. What if I lose or damage a book? 
Notify the library where you picked up the item immediately. The lending library will request that you pay for the damage or loss and maycharge a processing fee. Note that your Albuquerque/ Bernalillo County Library borrowing privileges will be suspended until all fees are paid. 

10. Where do I return interlibrary loan materials?  
Return them to the library where you picked up the item with the ILL label attached. Please do not place Interlibrary Loan materials in the book drop without the label on the item.

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Questions?

Call Interlibrary Loan Services at 505-768-5141, Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM