Interlibrary Loan

1. What is Interlibrary Loan?

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a service where participating libraries share materials.  Libraries lend materials and supply photocopies in accordance with national and international copyright laws. 

2. Who can use ILL?

ILL is available to the currently enrolled students, faculty and staff of South Puget Sound Community College. 

Patrons with any overdue items cannot use ILL. 

3. What is ILL for?

ILL is here to support all curriculum-related, academic research conducted by the students, faculty, and staff of South Puget Sound Community College.     

4. When should I use ILL?

When you can’t find the item in the South Puget Sound Community College Library’s online catalog, http://www.library.spscc.ctc.edu/Spydus/quickfind.htm and have worked with one of Reference Librarians to make sure the item isn’t available at another local library such as Timberland Regional, The Evergreen State College or St. Martin’s.  The Librarian will also help ensure that all the needed information is included in your request. 

5. What do I need to use ILL?

First, you will need a student ID card, valid for the current quarter.  Second, a completed ILL Request form.  These forms are available from the Reference Librarian.  This form needs to have as much bibliographic information as possible and how we should get in touch with you to let you know the status of your request.  

6. How long does ILL take?

It can take 2 weeks or longer to receive materials.  Because of this no student ILL requests will be accepted during the last 2 weeks of a quarter. 

7. What does ILL cost?

We do not charge our patrons for ILL.  

8. What’s available through ILL?

Books, copies of periodical articles, some audio-visual materials, and microforms can be borrowed.

Most libraries will not ordinarily lend the following types of materials: rare or valuable materials, whole volumes or entire issue of periodicals, video recordings, compact discs, cassettes, records, software, microforms, recently published materials, and reference materials. The decision to loan material is at the discretion of the lending library. 

9. What restrictions are there for ILL? 

Copyright law affects ILL. Generally, one may not request:

More than one article from any one issue of any periodical title or more than five articles from any periodical title in one calendar year (this provision does not apply to requests for materials more than five years old). 

10. Are there other restrictions?

You may be limited to a certain number of requests depending on the overall level of ILL volume.  Remember, patrons with any overdue items cannot use ILL. 

11. How will I be notified?

When your item arrives, we will notify you by phone or e-mail, whichever you prefer.  

12. Where do I pick up ILL items?

ILL items will be behind the Books Circulation Desk and are available for pick up during the Library’s normal operating hours.

Once you pick up an ILL item, it is your responsibility.  You may be charged if the item is damaged or lost. 

13. When are ILL items due?

Photocopied articles are yours to keep.  Books and other materials are loaned according to the lender’s policy.  Renewals may be available.  Since borrowing materials from other libraries is a privilege, things must be returned on time.  Failure to do so will result in a blocking of your student account which prevents access to grades and registration.  Also, you will lose future access to ILL.   

February 2003