As noted in the National Interlibrary Loan Code, interlibrary loan service is essential to the vitality of libraries of all types and sizes.  Lending between libraries is in the public interest and should be encouraged.  However, interlibrary loan should serve as an adjunct to, not a substitute for, local collection development.  Lincoln County Public Libraries are committed to fulfilling both its borrowing and lending roles in resource sharing on behalf of individual patrons and other libraries.

In meeting its resource sharing responsibilities, Lincoln County Libraries use the Montana State Library ILL protocols.  Interlibrary loan activity is transacted through FirstSearch.  With its participation in resource sharing, Lincoln CountyLibrary adheres to established local, state, and national resource sharing protocols for both borrowing and lending.

Patron may obtain materials from other libraries through the interlibrary loan process which is available to any patron with a valid library card, and the willingness to abide by the following policies:

A patron may have up to three interlibrary loans in process at one time, unless school or business related. ILL service is not available to patrons whose library privileges are suspended.

A patron is notified when an interlibrary loan is available for checking out.  A patron shall have seven days to check out an interlibrary loan after notification.

Patrons who have lost or damaged interlibrary loan material shall pay the fee assessed by the lending library.

Fines for overdue interlibrary loan materials will be $.25 per item per day.

Patrons may request an interlibrary loan title once, except for out-of-print materials which may be requested more than once.

Renewals for interlibrary loans may be made only if the lending library offers the renewal service.

Adopted 5/90

Revised 10/92

Revised 9/9/97

Revised 01/05

Revised 8/08

Revised 6/12