Policies For Borrowing Libraries

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Interlibrary Loan
NOAA Central Library
1315 East-West Highway
SSMC3, 2nd Floor, E/OC4
Silver Spring, MD 20910 -3282
(301) 713-2600 x113 Voice
(301) 713-4599 or >15 pages -4598
Interlibrary.Loan@noaa.gov
Ariel: 140.90.133.74 or 64.40.17.85/140.90.133.74

 SCHEDULE:

Desk and Ariel hours: 9:00a.m. - 4:00p.m. M-F. Library is closed on the weekends and Federal holidays.

 AVERAGE TURNAROUND TIME:

One business day.

 COST:

We do not charge nor accept payments, therefore, we provide ILL service selectively. We reserve the right to refuse service to those libraries that will not reciprocate free Interlibrary Loans.

 REQUEST METHODS ACCEPTED:

OCLC:    preferred method. We reserve the right to accept requests via OCLC only when time is limited.
ALA or IFLA ILL form:    can be faxed, mailed, Arieled, emailed, or walked-in (only with prior telephone notification).
Email:    only from libraries that lack OCLC. Request must include librarian's name and complete mailing address in message and compliance to copyrights.
IAMSLIC via Z39.50 Distributed Library:    only from IAMSLIC libraries that lack OCLC and only for items that are uniquely held at this library.
All phoned requests must be followed by a formal ILL request using the above methods.

The NOAA Library Catalog combines the collection of many NOAA libraries. A request for an item held at another NOAA library cannot be processed by the Central Library.

 ACCEPT ILL REQUESTS FROM:

Federal libraries, LVIS libraries, non charging (U.S.) libraries, U.S. and international libraries that have signed a reciprocal agreement. IAMSLIC libraries that charge or do not supply ILL's may use NOAA Central Library only as a last resort (on OCLC, OLA must be last in lender string) and only for NOAA documents. Corporations that lack libraries must use their local public libraries to submit ILL requests for our materials. All borrowing libraries are expected to follow the ALA Interlibrary Loan Code of the United States.

 ILL REQUESTS NOT ACCEPTED FROM:

Libraries that charge and do not sign a reciprocal agreement, libraries that are non-ILL suppliers, commercial document delivery companies, libraries with prior poor borrowing records, and individuals from the general public. The general public should use the Interlibrary Loan services at their local public, university, or corporate libraries to request items held at the NOAA Central Library.

 LIMIT OF INTERNATIONAL ILL:

Request from an international library must be for an item that is uniquely held by this library, e.g. NOAA documents. (Request for a commonly held item/title must be sent to libraries that have the resources to provide international ILL on a regular basis).

 LOST ITEMS AND PRIVILEGES:

Borrowing privileges are suspended when the material is overdue and until the return of the item. Lost items or items damaged beyond repair must be replaced for borrowing privileges to resume. If replacement cannot be found, then a comparable book (subject matter, price) will be recommended. If any loan restrictions are not followed, borrowing privileges are suspended or revoked.

 LOANS:

Books:     Loan period: 30 days. May be renewed for 30 more days. One renewal only.
Government documents:    Loan period: 30 days. Not renewable.
Videos:   Loan period: 15 days. Loaned to U.S. libraries only. Not renewable. Must be returned in a secure packaging box via commercial courier at own cost.
All loaned materials may be recalled if needed by our library patron.

 DO NOT LOAN:

Periodicals (newspaper, magazines, journals) in any form, reference books, rare books, CD's, slides.

 PHOTOCOPIES:

Will photocopy items that are equal to or less than 30 pages in length in hard copy form and equal to or less than 10 pages in length from microform. Borrowing libraries cannot be supplied with the pdf file of articles from electronic subscriptions.

 DELIVERY METHODS:

Mail:    U.S. Postal Service (Library Mail rate for books; First Class or Air Mail rate for articles).
Ariel:    Up to 20 pages.
Fax:    Only for rush requests. Up to 20 pages only for U.S. & reciprocating Canadian libraries. Only one article faxed per borrowing library a day.
Courier:    Federal Express and only if provided borrowing library's account number.
Borrower Pick-Up:    At borrowing library's own expense if using courier and pick-up is during library service hours (Monday-Friday 9am-4pm).

 RUSH POLICY:

Accept rush requests only from U.S. and reciprocating Canadian libraries. No other international rush requests accepted. Notify via telephone when making a rush request or fax a copy of request.

 NOTE ABOUT NOAA PUBLICATIONS:

The ILL Desk does not sell nor provide spare copies of NOAA publications. To purchase or to obtain a permanent copy of a NOAA report: (1) contact the specific NOAA agency or contracted group that published or sponsored the report, (2) contact the author of the publication, or (3) order from National Technical Information Service at 1-800-553-6847. Contact the Central Library's Reference Desk (301-713-2600 x124) for more information.