Leslie J. Savage Library: ILL: FAQ

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• How Does Interlibrary Loan Work?
  [process, instructions]
  Interlibrary Loan is a service offered by Savage Library which allows one to borrow materials from other libraries, worldwide. A similar, self-service feature is provided as part of a collaboration between Savage Library and our partner libraries (Prospector & Marmot Libraries).
  
  Before submitting a request, please check the library's online catalog, OneSearch, and Google for the item or check with a librarian.
  
  If you still haven't had any luck, the next step is to submit an online interlibrary loan request. Please keep in mind that staff process your requests by hand. So, the better your citation, the quicker it gets in the system and the better chance we'll have of getting your request accepted.
  
  Due to limited staffing, we ask that you request a maximum of five (5) items per day. Requests of an academic nature have first priority and will be processed before leisure items.
  
  When your item(s) arrive, you will be notified via email or as per your preference. Articles are sent directly to you via email.
  
  Please make note of any special instructions on your request form.
• Is Interlibrary Loan Free?
  [cost, fee]
  We are pleased to be able to provide this resource sharing service to Western students, faculty, staff, and members of the Gunnison community.
  
  Savage Library is not passing on interlibrary borrowing costs to Western students, staff or faculty. **However, should a Western patron fail to pick up the requested item(s) Savage Library has been charged for, the Library reserves the right to pass those fees onto said library user.
  
  Community patrons are asked to accept responsibility for any fees associated with the request. Patrons will be notified of said fees and must authorize charges before the item is requested. Fees will be added to library patron accounts and are payable upon receipt of loan materials.
• How much do ILL requests actually cost?
  [fee]
  While we rarely charge for our interlibrary loan service, there is always staff time involved in processing each request, and some libraries charge us to borrow a book or send a copy of an article. We frequently have to pay shipping costs for loans and copyright fees for articles and book chapters. The average cost for each completed interlibrary loan transaction in the United States is about $30.00 per request.
• When Will I Receive my Interlibrary Loan Item?
  [wait, processing, how long]
  Articles typically arrive in 3-5 days, but can take longer. Books arriving by mail or parcel service usually take 7-10 days. Due to various factors inherent in the borrowing process, it could take up to 3 weeks to get your item.
  
  Please leave yourself plenty of time.
  
  If you have not received your item in a reasonable amount of time or were given the wrong item, please contact Abigail Van Kirk (libraryloans@western.edu).
• What If my Interlibrary Loan is Late or Lost?
  Communication is key. Don't panic, talk to the ILL Manager so a solution can be found. This is not to say that there won't be consequences. Let's lay them out:
  
  So you're thinking, I'm not done with this yet. What can it hurt to keep the book/DVD/CD a little longer?
  First, you need to know that libraries aren't obligated to lend us anything - free or otherwise. Keeping a loan past its due date puts our relationship with that library at risk, making borrowing from them in the future much more difficult. Please keep our pool of lenders as large as possible by bringing your ILL materials back on time or contacting the Interlibrary Loan Manager about the possibility of a renewal.
  
  What if your item is already past the return date?
  ​-  You'll receive an email reminder and/or phone call. Once an item is overdue, we'll need to talk because:
  ​-  Library privileges are suspended while the loan is overdue.
  ​-  Holds are placed on your Western student account preventing one from accessing grades or transcripts or registering for classes.
  ​-  A replacement fee per item is added to your Western student account.
  ​-  Rest assured that once the item is returned, in the condition it was lent, the holds are lifted and Western fees removed. However, any late/damage/replacement fees assessed by the lending library are still your responsibility and will be left in place on your student account.
  
  What if you just can't find it or it's lost (or beyond repair)?
  We understand that accidents happen and Savage Library will work with the lending library on your behalf and attempt to keep you in the loop. Should it be a lost cause, Library policy is to fine you (the borrower) the amount the lending library charges Savage Library to replace the item(s). We don't tack any extra fees on for processing, etc.