Interlibrary Loan FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
1. What is Interlibrary Loan?
ILL is a service provided by your library that allows you to borrow items from libraries across the United States. Sonoma County Library establishes borrowing agreements with other libraries in order to request items on your behalf through the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC).
2. How long does it take for an Interlibrary Loan request to get to me?
In the very best of circumstances it takes 2-3 weeks but more commonly 4-6 weeks. We suggest that you fill out the “need –by” field on the request postcard if there is a date after which you can no longer use the requested item.
3. How many requests can I have at once?
You can have 3 active requests at once. This includes items at all stages of the interlibrary loan transaction from the time you submit the request postcard to the librarian to the time you return the item to the circulation desk to be checked back in. We will not process any requests in excess of three.
4. What items can I request through ILL?
You may request books; other monographs; articles from newspapers and periodicals; and entire newspapers on microfilm. You may NOT request media such as VHS tapes, DVDs or recorded books. For media requests see Supersearch.
5. Can I request material via Interlibrary Loan online?
No. We need you to fill out a white interlibrary loan request postcard for books and other monographs, and a green interlibrary loan request postcard for all serials (newspapers on microfilm, and newspaper and periodical articles). You may obtain and submit request cards at any Sonoma County Library branch.
6. Is there a charge for use of your Interlibrary Loan Service?
Usually not. In the strong majority of cases we can successfully borrow items at no charge. But make note: if we are unable to find a lending library system willing to lend an item to us free of charge, we then seek other lending libraries that do not charge more than $10.00 for books or $20.00 for periodical/newspaper requests. You must sign the request postcard agreeing to accept charges not exceeding above amounts. We will not process any unsigned request card.
7. Can I renew a book borrowed through Interlibrary Loan?
No. The length of time it takes an item to reach us, be processed to lend to you keeps it away from the library that owns it from 4-6 weeks (sometimes longer). We are grateful they are willing to lend these items to us and part of our agreement with them is that we do not renew ILL requests. You may always fill out another request card but please be prepared to wait – the item has to go home before it comes back a second time.
8. How will I be notified that my Interlibrary Loan request is in?
You will be notified the same way as your Sonoma County Library holds. We contact you either by phone, e-mail or postal mail. If you would like to change the way you are currently notified, please contact the circulation desk at your library branch or click here to request a change to or from e-mail notification.