Interlibrary Loan Policies
Access Services Department

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a reciprocal lending service by which the Kemp Library requests materials from other participating libraries to supply items not currently in its collection. The Kemp Library also supplies materials to other libraries. Questions or comments concerning the following interlibrary loan policies may be directed to the Access Services Librarian at (570) 422-3544.


ILL SERVICES

Eligibility:  Currently enrolled students, faculty, staff, administrators, and faculty emeriti are eligible for ILL services. The service is not available to alumni, courtesy card holders, or the general public.  Members of these patron groups may visit their local public library to inquire about possible ILL services.

Location: ILL requests may be initiated at the Kemp Library’s Circulation Desk.

Hours of Service: ILL requests can be submitted and picked-up during the Library’s regular hours of service.  Whenever possible, the ILL staff will process requests by the end of the next business day. Patrons may request ILL items through the last day of each semester. Interlibrary loan service is not available between semesters or during spring break.  Consult with the ILL staff before submitting requests during the last week of classes or immediately before semester breaks.


BEFORE MAKING A REQUEST

For Book Titles:  Please check PILOT, the Kemp Library online catalog, for holdings information before submitting an ILL request for a book.  Items not avialable in the Kemp Library collection can also be requested from the following lending services:
For Journal Articles:  Please check the Kemp Library's Periodical Holdings Directory available at the reference desk and at various locations on the main floor.  In addition, consult the library web page for listings of online databases and electronic journals for titles and articles not available in the library's periodical print or microform collection. Many journals are available full text through one of the databases or electronic journal subscriptions currently available to ESU patrons.


INITIATING AN INTERLIBRARY LOAN

Request Forms:  Patrons may obtain ILL request forms at the Circulation Desk.  Each ILL request must be placed on a separate form.  Copies of journal articles may be requested by using a yellow Journal Article Interlibrary Loan Request form.  Requests for books and other print materials not available through UBorrow or E-Z Borrow may be requested by using a blue Book Interlibrary Loan Request form.  Please provide as much bibliographic information as possible for each requested item.  At present, requests submitted or forwarded by phone, fax, e-mail, or surface mail will not be processed.

Request Limitations: Currently, patrons are not limited to the number of ILL requests they may submit.  However, lending libraries usually do not allow renewals of ILL materials.  Patrons are asked to realistically assess their ability to use ILL materials within the loan periods set by the lending libraries.  Broad requests for materials by subject cannot be honored.  Patrons experiencing difficulty in retrieving relevant material for class assignments or research needs should consult with the reference librarian on duty for assistance.

Restrictions: ILL Requests cannot be processed for the following:
  1. Books or journals currently available in the Kemp Library collection (materials with a status of “Missing” on PILOT or articles torn or missing from issues of periodicals will be available for request through ILL).
  2. Materials in the Kemp Library collection currently charged to patrons (please place a hold or recall instead).
  3. Books published in the current calendar year.
  4. Textbooks.
  5. Reference books.
  6. Rare books.
  7. Mostlibraries will not loan theses, dissertations, microforms, videotapes, other audio-visual materials, computer software, DVDs, or CD-ROMS.

FEES AND PAYMENTS

Fees:  Although Kemp Library obtains the vast majority of loans free of charge for its patrons, some lending library charge fees.  There are no uniform rates or policies regarding ILL fees.  Fees may include photocopying costs, handling, postage, insurance, minimum transaction fees, and charges for cost estimates.  Patrons are requested to indicate on ILL forms whether they are willing to pay potential fees for ILL services and the maximum amount they are willing to pay.  Signing the ILL form is an agreement to pay any charges assessed by the lending library up to the maximum amount indicated.  Even though patrons indicate a willingness to pay for an ILL, no request for which there are fees will be processed until the patron is informed of any charges.

Payment Methods:  Cash, checks or money orders are acceptable for payment of ILL fees.  Checks and money orders should be made payable to East Stroudsburg University.  Currently, bank and credit cards cannot be used for payments.  All applicable fees are required when the patron picks up the ILL material.


DELIVERY AND PICK-UP

Delivery Time:  Many lending libraries electronically transmit copies of periodical articles resulting in rapid delivery time.  However, books and photocopies of articles sent by surface mail may have a delivery time of several days to two weeks or sometimes longer.  Nevertheless, delivery times cannot be guaranteed for every loan.  Patrons who urgently need items and cannot wait for normal ILL delivery may contact a reference librarian for assistance in locating nearby libraries that may have needed items in their collections.

Pick-up:  Patrons are notified by phone or e-mail when ILL materials are ready for pick up at the Circulation Desk.  Patrons are asked to sign their name, date, and the interlibrary loan number on the ILL Receipt form.  Any ILL charges must be paid at the time of pick-up.

Loan Periods:  Loan periods are determined by the lending library.  Loan periods may range from “Library Use Only”, to a few days, or up to 2 to 3 weeks.  Due date reminder slips are placed in ILL books.  

Renewals:  In general, ILL items cannot be renewed.  Please return ILL items promptly by the date specified by the lending institution.  Overdue materials jeopardize the Kemp Library’s ability to receive additional materials from the lending library.

Request Status:  ESU patrons may call the ILL staff at 570-422-3914 to inquire about the status of an ILL request.

Returns:  Photocopies become the property of the requestor and do not need to be returned.  Other ILL materials should be returned to the Circulation Desk by the due date.


COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

Copyright:  The Kemp Library ILL policies are based guidelines of the the National Commission on New Technological Uses of Copyrighted Works (CONTU) and Title 17 of the United States Code.

Restrictions:  All ILL requests will be reviewed to ensure copyright compliance. Requests may be denied if fullfillment violates any portion of current copyright law as defined in the resources above.


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Updated 1/30/2004