INTERLIBRARY LOAN POLICIES
DEFINITIONS
Interlibrary loan (ILL) is defined as a borrowing/loaning agreement between libraries. Currently the Bolton Public Library performs ILL functions through the statewide ILL office at Quincy. The Library can also perform ILL functions directly using American Library Association (ALA) forms. ILL differs from Holds. Holds are a circulation function, may be initiated by patrons and staff alike, and are confined to the library’s network. ILL is initiated by staff on behalf of patrons. The library’s name is foremost on the borrowing transaction, thus the library bears some responsibility for materials. ILL materials are generally thought of as those available from outside the library’s network or geographical location.
GENERAL
ILL service is an option when searches of (in hierarchical order) the C/W MARS catalog and the MA Virtual Catalog have been exhausted.
The Bolton Public Library will initiate ILL service to any patron with a valid C/W MARS library card. A C/W MARS card, as opposed to another network’s card, is necessary as it allows staff to validate current status including fines and fees owed, and to add fines and fees when necessary.
ILL service is guided by principles and practices established by the American Library Association, the Massachusetts Library System, and borrowing and lending libraries regardless of location.
The Bolton Public Library is willing to request the loan of materials of all types, but patrons using ILL services are cautioned that some types of materials, including but not limited to the following, may be unavailable:
Patrons using ILL services are subject to the circulation policies of the lending library.
The library’s staff and budget resources being limited and its focus being popular materials, it is unable to support scholarly research. The following limits will be observed: A patron may have no more than two active requests for material of the same title at one time.
A patron may order the same item no more than three (3) times in a calendar year.
BORROWING PHOTOCOPIES
Patrons requesting photocopies via ILL must agree to pay a fee of 10 cents per page (same as if the Bolton Public Library owned the periodical and it were copied on site). Photocopy fees are payable directly to the Bolton Public Library.
Photocopies will be held for 14 days past the date of receipt by the library, after which they will be discarded.
In the event that a photocopy is provided but not picked up, the Bolton Public Library staff will add a manual fine in the full amount due to the patron’s C/W MARS library card.
BORROWING ALL OTHER TYPES OF MATERIAL
The Library accepts that postage via Media Mail rate (or other, whichever costs less) is part of ILL business, and absorbs the cost.
Should a lender charge a loan fee (that is, a fee over and above postage as described above), the patron must accept or deny the fee in order for the transaction to proceed.
The patron initiating ILL service is the only one who can accept or refuse to pay an ILL fee. Acceptance or refusal by an agent will not be accepted.
When the patron accepts the fee, staff will note on the order form date, time, and method of communication (i.e., by phone, email, in person, or other) before continuing the ordering process.
When the patron refuses to pay the fee, staff will proceed to the next lender and the process repeated. When all lenders in the string are exhausted and it is determined that none will lend without a fee, the transaction is concluded.
Payment of the lending fee, made payable to the loaning library, is expected upon pickup of the material. The Library will not release material until the fee is paid.
In the event that a patron agrees to pay a fee then fails to pick up the material, the Bolton Public Library staff will add the full amount due as a manual fine on the patron’s C/W MARS card.
Patrons are responsible for payment of all fines and fees that accrue on overdue items.
Non-photocopied items are assumed to be nonrenewable. Should renewal be allowed by the lender, the patron must notify the Bolton Public Library staff five days before the due date. The Library staff will not automatically request a renewal.
MISCELLANEOUS
Patrons are responsible for returning items in the condition in which they arrived. Should they be damaged in any way while in the borrower’s possession, the borrower is responsible for any and all restitution required by the owning library.
Patrons who have through previous ILL experience demonstrated irresponsible borrowing habits will be denied ILL service at the Bolton Public Library.
The Bolton Public Library will honor any limitation on use (e.g., in-library use only) imposed by the lender.
Approved by Board of Library Trustees 1/10/2011; amended and re-approved 1/22/2013
Interlibrary loan (ILL) is defined as a borrowing/loaning agreement between libraries. Currently the Bolton Public Library performs ILL functions through the statewide ILL office at Quincy. The Library can also perform ILL functions directly using American Library Association (ALA) forms. ILL differs from Holds. Holds are a circulation function, may be initiated by patrons and staff alike, and are confined to the library’s network. ILL is initiated by staff on behalf of patrons. The library’s name is foremost on the borrowing transaction, thus the library bears some responsibility for materials. ILL materials are generally thought of as those available from outside the library’s network or geographical location.
GENERAL
ILL service is an option when searches of (in hierarchical order) the C/W MARS catalog and the MA Virtual Catalog have been exhausted.
The Bolton Public Library will initiate ILL service to any patron with a valid C/W MARS library card. A C/W MARS card, as opposed to another network’s card, is necessary as it allows staff to validate current status including fines and fees owed, and to add fines and fees when necessary.
ILL service is guided by principles and practices established by the American Library Association, the Massachusetts Library System, and borrowing and lending libraries regardless of location.
The Bolton Public Library is willing to request the loan of materials of all types, but patrons using ILL services are cautioned that some types of materials, including but not limited to the following, may be unavailable:
- Audiovisual media
- Bulky or fragile items, or those that are difficult to ship
- Rare or valuable materials
- Reference (non-circulating) items
- New items
- Textbooks
Patrons using ILL services are subject to the circulation policies of the lending library.
The library’s staff and budget resources being limited and its focus being popular materials, it is unable to support scholarly research. The following limits will be observed: A patron may have no more than two active requests for material of the same title at one time.
A patron may order the same item no more than three (3) times in a calendar year.
BORROWING PHOTOCOPIES
Patrons requesting photocopies via ILL must agree to pay a fee of 10 cents per page (same as if the Bolton Public Library owned the periodical and it were copied on site). Photocopy fees are payable directly to the Bolton Public Library.
Photocopies will be held for 14 days past the date of receipt by the library, after which they will be discarded.
In the event that a photocopy is provided but not picked up, the Bolton Public Library staff will add a manual fine in the full amount due to the patron’s C/W MARS library card.
BORROWING ALL OTHER TYPES OF MATERIAL
The Library accepts that postage via Media Mail rate (or other, whichever costs less) is part of ILL business, and absorbs the cost.
Should a lender charge a loan fee (that is, a fee over and above postage as described above), the patron must accept or deny the fee in order for the transaction to proceed.
The patron initiating ILL service is the only one who can accept or refuse to pay an ILL fee. Acceptance or refusal by an agent will not be accepted.
When the patron accepts the fee, staff will note on the order form date, time, and method of communication (i.e., by phone, email, in person, or other) before continuing the ordering process.
When the patron refuses to pay the fee, staff will proceed to the next lender and the process repeated. When all lenders in the string are exhausted and it is determined that none will lend without a fee, the transaction is concluded.
Payment of the lending fee, made payable to the loaning library, is expected upon pickup of the material. The Library will not release material until the fee is paid.
In the event that a patron agrees to pay a fee then fails to pick up the material, the Bolton Public Library staff will add the full amount due as a manual fine on the patron’s C/W MARS card.
Patrons are responsible for payment of all fines and fees that accrue on overdue items.
Non-photocopied items are assumed to be nonrenewable. Should renewal be allowed by the lender, the patron must notify the Bolton Public Library staff five days before the due date. The Library staff will not automatically request a renewal.
MISCELLANEOUS
Patrons are responsible for returning items in the condition in which they arrived. Should they be damaged in any way while in the borrower’s possession, the borrower is responsible for any and all restitution required by the owning library.
Patrons who have through previous ILL experience demonstrated irresponsible borrowing habits will be denied ILL service at the Bolton Public Library.
The Bolton Public Library will honor any limitation on use (e.g., in-library use only) imposed by the lender.
Approved by Board of Library Trustees 1/10/2011; amended and re-approved 1/22/2013
