Pierce County Library System
Information & Imagination

Services

Interlibrary Loan FAQ

What type of materials can I obtain through Interlibrary Loan (ILL)?
Older books which PCLS does not currently own, copies of articles, or microform can usually be obtained via ILL  if we are able to find an owning US library willing to lend.

Can I request a movie or CD through Interlibrary Loan?

Yes, the Library borrows movies, CDs and audio books. Requests for electronic books can be made through Overdrive. 

Can I request a newly published title?
All requests for recently published books will be considered for purchase only. If the book has been published in the last year or two, we are unable to borrow it. We have found that we are unable to find libraries that will loan their newest books to us. Most Libraries reserve newest titles for use by their own customers.

If Pierce County Library already owns a copy of the title I want, will you ILL a copy for me, if I ask for it that way?
No. The library uses Interlibrary Loan exclusively for titles we do not own. Please place a regular hold in our catalog for any titles that PCLS currently owns.

 

How long does it take to get a book?
Generally we are able to obtain a book via ILL within 2 – 4 weeks. In a few cases, it may take longer. It depends if there are copies readily available from other library systems.

Can I renew my ILL items?
It depends. The decision to renew items is made by the lending library. Please, contact your local library and we will work with you to renew or request the item again. 

When will I know if the library is unable to get the book I requested?

• If we are unable to locate any US libraries who own the title, we will let you know as soon as possible if you included an email address on the request form. This will generally happen within a few days.
• If we are unable to borrow an item after 2 months of trying with US libraries who indicate they own the title, we will cancel your ILL request. We will, however, leave the canceled request on your account as a visual clue for you for future use. You are welcome to re-submit a request for it again. You can ask to have such canceled requests removed from your account at any time.

How many Interlibrary loan (ILL) requests can I have? 
You may have two purchase/ILL requests a week which totals 8-10 requests per month. 

How will I know if an ILL item will have a charge attached?
If the lending library charges us for an item, we will pass those charges onto you. We will ask for your approval and acceptance of these borrowing charges before we borrow that item. Shipping costs, however, are paid for by the Library.

If a book that I obtained via ILL becomes lost or damaged, what will I have to pay?
If an ILL book becomes damaged or lost while in your possession, we will assess your account whatever the owning library charges us for damage/lost. This can vary widely, depending on the book and the owning library involved. Please take extra care with ILL books.

What are reasons I might not be able to obtain a requested title via ILL request?
There may be one of several reasons why your request cannot be filled:

• Your account has reached the limit of 2 ILL requests per week. 
• Items you have checked out are overdue. How to renew your items.
• Your account has two or more overdue/lost ILL requests.  
• Your account has a message. How to view your account.
• Your account may have expired. Please contact staff at your local library.
• The request is for material formats we do not ILL. (We do not ILL electronic books, but requests can be made through Overdrive.)
• The material has a too-recent publication date. (We will consider these for purchase, however.)
• We are unable to find an owning US library willing to lend the title.

Please contact library staff if you have any difficulties with your account.