Tell me about inter-library loan

[Yooper]

I have always wondered how they work exactly....

Does the library have to pay shipping for a book I get on inter-library loan? When I was in college, we had to pay a fee to use it so I assumed they had to pay too. What about community libraries? My library is very small and very seldom has the specific book I am looking for at any given time. If I had my way, I would get books via inter-library loan every week but do not want to be responsible for some huge expense. And is it a huge hassle? Am I going to be a bother requesting this on a regular basis?

[pammysue]

I have never had to pay for inter-library loan and I have used it at several different libraries. From my very limited understanding (I am not a librarian), your library will be in a "network" or several networks of libraries that all "share" books amongst themselves. So, there should be no charge to you or hardship to any library since the library is already set up to use the system and I am sure does on a regular basis.

I use ILL all of the time, because my library is severely limited and DH is a professor so I can access almost any book through his work library.

[owensmom]

I use it constantly, no problem! I mean, I think so each library in a system doesn't have to hold a complete set of books, they have inter library loans... so it is designed to be used. I regularly have 10 things on hold to pick up. Go forward without guilt!

[Yooper]

Originally Posted by pammysue

I have never had to pay for inter-library loan and I have used it at several different libraries. From my very limited understanding (I am not a librarian), your library will be in a "network" or several networks of libraries that all "share" books amongst themselves. So, there should be no charge to you or hardship to any library since the library is already set up to use the system and I am sure does on a regular basis.

I use ILL all of the time, because my library is severely limited and DH is a professor so I can access almost any book through his work library.

So, how do they get the books from one library to the next? I live in a geographically isolated area so the other libraries in our ILL network are up to 6 hours away. Dh thought they got "free postage" or something. I am just wondering if that is true. Some of the books I want to read are available at a local used book store for just a few dollars. I could definitely afford that but really do not want to keep the actual books (small house) so I would much prefer to just borrow them from the library via ILL. But if I know my library is paying the same amount in shipping costs, I would rather just buck up and donate the books after I read them. I would rather the library spend that shipping money on MORE BOOKS rather than spend all that money shipping books. I am a voracious reader. If a book cost $3 to ship and I read one ILL book a week (along with the several other books they actual do have), that is $150 that could be used to buy more books!

I am probably thinking WAY more into this than I should. I just remember the exasperated looks and the "Do you REALLY need this book?" attitude I got when using ILL at my university. They have never given me that vibe at our community library but I am hoping they are not all sitting around talking about the chick that is driving them into the poor house with her ILL habit

[Jennisee]

I'm on my town library's board, so I have a little insight.

Libaries can belong to a network that exchanges books via ILL, but it almost always requires an annual free, so some libraries can afford it and some can't. When libraries are part of this network, they have to pay postage when they mail a book to another library, but it is theoretically balanced out when they get a book "for free" because the sending library pays the postage to them. Some highly organized networks have trucks that drive from library to library, so the library doesn't even have to pay postage, just the annual fee--but, of course, this involves a higher fee.

Some libraries have budgets so small that they can't afford the annual fee and/or postage without charging patrons a fee for each ILL. Other libraries have a budget with enough flexibility that they can eat the annual fee and postage as an operating expense, so they offer ILL to their patrons for free. All you should need to do to find out which category your library falls into is to call.

ETA: You should never get a hassle for using a service the library offers. If the library is part of an ILL network, then they should be used to ordering books as part of their regular duties. One book a week is not a lot at all. We have patrons who order several books a week. If the librarians do give you a hassle, feel free to show up at a board meeting.

[Yooper]

Originally Posted by Jennisee

I'm on my town library's board, so I have a little insight.

Libaries can belong to a network that exchanges books via ILL, but it almost always requires an annual free, so some libraries can afford it and some can't. When libraries are part of this network, they have to pay postage when they mail a book to another library, but it is theoretically balanced out when they get a book "for free" because the sending library pays the postage to them. Some highly organized networks have trucks that drive from library to library, so the library doesn't even have to pay postage, just the annual fee--but, of course, this involves a higher fee.

Some libraries have budgets so small that they can't afford the annual fee and/or postage without charging patrons a fee for each ILL. Other libraries have a budget with enough flexibility that they can eat the annual fee and postage as an operating expense, so they offer ILL to their patrons for free. All you should need to do to find out which category your library falls into is to call.

ETA: You should never get a hassle for using a service the library offers. If the library is part of an ILL network, then they should be used to ordering books as part of their regular duties. One book a week is not a lot at all. We have patrons who order several books a week. If the librarians do give you a hassle, feel free to show up at a board meeting.

This answers a lot of questions. Thanks!

I know my library is part of a ILL network but I doubt they have a truck seeing as the network geographically covers a great deal of practically non-populated miles. But I will definitely ask when I am there next.

But I am guessing that each time I do get a book via ILL, I am costing the library money. They have never given me a hard time at all. But that does help me decide where the line is for what I might request. Like, perhaps I should skip the knitting book I just *might* be interested in? Really, they are technically "saving" money since the obscure book I get via ILL is probably a book no one else in my area would ever be interested in reading. To buy it would be far more than shipping.

[Jennisee]

Originally Posted by Yooper

But I am guessing that each time I do get a book via ILL, I am costing the library money.

It depends on how the network is set up. It is possible that they only have to pay money when they mail out a book, not when they get it. This is how many smaller, local networks operate. However, some networks do charge the library a fee every time they order a book. This is more common if you're dealing with a multi-state or national network. (My library belongs to both a local network and a national network, so I can literally order books from thousands of libraries across the country.)

If you're worried about whether you cost the library with each ILL, the librarians should easily be able to answer that question. If you do cost them with each order, you can ask about their budget for their ILL fees and if they're flirting with the limit or if they have money to spare. Be warned, though, if you ask too many questions, they may ask you if you want to be on the board. :

[Yooper]

Originally Posted by Jennisee

It depends on how the network is set up. It is possible that they only have to pay money when they mail out a book, not when they get it. This is how many smaller, local networks operate. However, some networks do charge the library a fee every time they order a book. This is more common if you're dealing with a multi-state or national network. (My library belongs to both a local network and a national network, so I can literally order books from thousands of libraries across the country.)

If you're worried about whether you cost the library with each ILL, the librarians should easily be able to answer that question. If you do cost them with each order, you can ask about their budget for their ILL fees and if they're flirting with the limit or if they have money to spare. Be warned, though, if you ask too many questions, they may ask you if you want to be on the board. :

Thanks!

I *am* afraid to ask questions. That is how I ended up on our co-op board and I am STILL hiding from the Suzuki board people..... Not that I am against board service, I just can only handle one major board at a time

I have a list of about 20 books that I have been pining for forever that I can get via ILL. I think I will start shipping away at it and see how it goes.

[babycarrier]

My husband is a courier and one of the company's contracts are libraries. So, everyday he stops at his 3 assigned libraries and gets a couple of huge crates of books, brings them to the warehouse, they get sorted somewhere in this process and then said crates are brought to the library again. I know when I've run the route with him it is a good number of books travelling around just these three libraries.

These guys get paid per crate and it isn't much, but it is more $ in the paycheck.

Interlibrary loan is wonderful! I love that within a few days I can get most anything I want to read. And knowing how the books get around, here anyway, I know somebody is getting some extra work and work = money so it's a good thing all around.