[Publib] RE: Interlibrary Loan question

[Donna Block]

The library I work at is part of a consortium of about 25 different
libraries.  Everything that is requested from libraries outside of the
system is handled via OCLC and defined as Interlibrary Loan.  

We take advantage of Illinois' state-wide truck routes for the delivery
of all in-state items.  Out-of-state loans are mailed at the reduced
"library rate".  We won't mail out anything that is too heavy for our
scale (5+ pounds) or too big to fit in one of our large padded
envelopes.  We also don't send AV items out of state, and don't request
them from out-of-state, either.

Our patrons can request as many items through ILL as they like.
However, we limit the number of "active" requests to 3 at a time.  So,
if someone requests 4 items, we won't submit the fourth request through
OCLC until one of the first three is returned.

We loan for free, and will only request items from other libraries that
loan for free, as well.  We don't charge our patrons (other than late
fines) for ILL at this time.

Any loan that we receive through ILL gets a paper band saying that it
has come from another library, but MUST be returned to us.  The due date
is also recorded on this band.

I can't recall any instances of a patron claiming to return an item
that, according to our records, was never returned.  I can think of one
case where an item was lost, but then (I believe) the patron paid the
replacement fee.  We have occasionally returned borrowed items, and then
received messages saying that the item was never returned.  Likewise,
occasionally one of OUR items will disappear en route to a borrowing
library.

We have had a problem with patrons who request items through ILL, but
then fail to pick the item up, or, inform us (after the item has
arrived) that they no longer want it.  This is very frustrating, and I
would be interested in hearing from anyone who has had this problem, as
well.

-Donna Block
Reference and ILL Assistant
Niles Public Library District

-----------------------------------

Message: 33
Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2006 09:23:21 -0400
From: "David Wilson" <DCWILSON at roanokecountyva.gov>
Subject: [Publib] Interlibrary Loan Question
To: <publib at webjunction.org>
Message-ID: <s49bb31a.016 at roanokecountyva.gov>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

In the past couple of years, we have seen a dramatic increase in
interlibrary loan requests in our system.  Many of these requests are
from a few loyal interlibrary loan patrons, some home schoolers and some
just have a particular taste in reading.
 
The problem is that we are starting to feel the cost of the postage, as
well as replacement costs for lost items in the mail and otherwise that
are not due to the error of the patron in some instances.
 
So far we have been able to provide this service free of charge and
limit the amount of interlibrary loan requests to 5 per person per week,
but this does not seem to be working any longer.
 
I would like to know what the interlibrary loan policies are of other
libraries, such as:
 
Any limits placed on the amount of requests per individual
 
Any fees that are required to be paid by the requestor
 
Requirements for how an interlibrary loan should be returned to the
library by the patron (such as do you require them to pick up a receipt?
do they have to return items to a particular location?  etc.)
 
If an item is lost but the patron says they returned the item what steps
are taken?
 
Any feedback you can provide concerning these issues would be much
appreciated.
 
Thank you.
David Wilson
Roanoke County Public Library 
dcwilson at roanokecountyva.gov