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Interlibrary Loan, also known as Resource Sharing, provides materials that are not available in Broward County Libraries' collection. Broward County Library cardholders can request to borrow a multitude of resources such as books, audiovisuals, newspaper and periodical articles, microfilm, and musical scores from libraries located all over the United States.
Requests for materials can be made at any one of Broward County Library's branches. Requests can be placed electronically through the Worldcat database or by filling out an interlibrary loan form available at a reference station.
If you use the online service, the following steps will assist you in handling your requests:
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Verify that Broward County Library does not own the item(s) you want by checking in our catalog at www.broward.org/library or by clicking on the catalog button located in the left side margin of this page.
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Exit the catalog and at the library's website, click on free online resources located in the right side margin.
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Select Other Library Catalogs and click on Worldcat. This will put you on the basic search page for using the Worldcat database. Other databases that index periodical items are available by clicking on the Databases tab.
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When you locate the item you want, click on the ILL icon and fill out the online form. It is important you "select a library" so that Broward County Library's Interlibrary Loan section will know where to send your materials.
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If you would like to track the status of your requests, you can use the "My Account" feature of WorldCat to place your requests. You do need to register and you must use your Library Card number as your User Name. All subsequent resource sharing requests can then be placed and tracked by logging into My Account and viewing Resource Sharing.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who can use the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service?
- What material is eligible for request through ILL?
- What material should NOT be requested through the ILL service? Can I get a video?
- There are 36 people on HOLD for the book I want. Can I request it through ILL?
- How long will it take to get my requested item?
- How will I know when my item arrives?
- Where will I check out and return my ILL item?
- How long can I keep my ILL?
- Can I renew my ILL?
- What does "In House Use Only" mean?
- I submitted a request ten days ago; how can I check the current status of my request?
- How many ILLs may I request at one time?
- How much does an ILL cost?
- Are there any guarantees?
- Can I place an ILL request from my home or office computer?
- How can I contact Interlibrary Loan?
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can use the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service?
Anyone with a valid Broward County library card may place an Interlibrary Loan request.
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What material is eligible for request through ILL?
Materials that can be borrowed include books in a variety of languages, large print books, audiovisual materials in a variety of formats, theses and dissertations, microform, and photocopies from periodicals and newspapers. Genealogy materials are not generally available through ILL, however, photocopies can often be obtained when specific names are submitted in the comments field on the ILL form.
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What material should NOT be requested through the ILL service? Can I get a video?
Items that are ineligible include computer software, e-books, and anything already owned by Broward County Library including reference materials. Books that are very old (published prior to 1850) or very new (published within the last six months) should not be requested. You may request movies on VHS or DVD, music on CD or cassette, and books on tape or disc. Newly-released popular films, as well as episodic television shows, are ineligible for request.
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There are 36 people on HOLD for the book I want. Can I request it through ILL?
If Broward County Library owns the item, we are not able to borrow it. The National Interlibrary Loan Code, published by the American Library Association, does not allow libraries to request materials that they already own. If the status of an item is lost, withdrawn, or traced, we will be glad to request it as an ILL for you.
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How long will it take to get my requested item?
Interlibrary Loan requests can be processed in a week to six weeks, depending upon the availability and geographical location of the materials requested.
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How will I know when my item arrives?
You will receive a telephone call from the branch library that you selected when the request was placed. Please pick up your ILL item promptly.
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Where will I check out and return my ILL item?
You will sign a paper copy that details your request; this copy will be given back to you, serving as your receipt, when your item is returned. You must return to the same branch's Circulation Desk where you picked up your item. Please do not return an ILL item in a drop box.
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How long can I keep my ILL?
The lending library sets the Due Date, since the loaned item belongs to them, rather than Broward County Library.
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Can I renew my ILL?
You can request a renewal from the lender by calling our ILL office (954-357-7442). You will need to call us back the same week to find out if, and for how long, a renewal is granted. If you establish a personal Account in WorldCat, you can request and check for renewals through the Resource Sharing tab.
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What does "In House Use Only" mean?
Some lending libraries require that their material be used only in our library buildings.
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I submitted a request ten days ago; how can I check the current status of my request?
You may call our office for a status check. If you establish an Account in WorldCat, you can keep track of your requests using the Resource Sharing tab.
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How many ILLs may I request at one time?
There is currently no limit on the number of ILL book requests a customer may enter, but it is preferable to stagger multiple requests over a period of time. Since several requests tend to come in together, you should not request more than you read at one time. Borrowers may have only ten audiovisual items at a time; this limit includes both pending and received material.
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How much does an ILL cost?
The ILL service is free to all Broward County customers.
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Are there any guarantees?
Broward County Library's Interlibrary Loan service cannot guarantee the procurement of any item you request. We always have to rely on other libraries' willingness to loan material.
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Can I place an ILL request from my home or office computer?
Yes, if you have a complete citation (title, author, etc.) for a book or article and have already checked the BCL catalog, you may submit an Interlibrary Loan request here by filling out our online form completely. Requests for audiovisual materials cannot be placed remotely; these must be placed electronically through the Worldcat database or by filling out an interlibrary loan form available at a reference station.
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How can I contact Interlibrary Loan?
Please call the ILL office at 954-357-7442. To email comments or suggestions, please e-mail bill@browardlibrary.org. If you need assistance placing your interlibrary loans, you can work with the reference staff at your local library branch.
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