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How do I request items from other libraries or an InterLibrary Loan (ILL)?

  • Check the Minuteman Library Network (MLN) catalog first. This catalog contains the holdings of more than 40 Massachusetts libraries, including a few academic libraries. You can request most items directly from the online catalog and have them delivered to the branch of your choice. If you would rather have a staff member do it for you, please call 617-730-2369 during library hours.
  • Next check the Virtual Catalog, which includes the collections of several Massachusetts library consortia as well as those of a number of academic libraries. Again, you can use your library card to request these items yourself; or you can call 617-730-2369 during library hours to have a staff member do it for you.
  • If you cannot obtain an item you want from either of the above sources, please fill out our fill out interlibrary loan request form. Again, you may call the reference desk at 617-730-2369 to request an item; but filling out the online form ensures that we gather all of the information we need to process your request.
      • Things to keep in mind regarding ILL:
    • We cannot request items less than a year old. If it is brand new, you can request that we purchase the item. Our Collection Development Policy guides our purchase decisions, but in general, we usually attempt to purchase requested items if they are not terribly specialized or expensive.
    • Most lending libraries will not lend textbooks, especially current ones. We can ask, but frequently the requests are refused.
    • Provide us with as much information as you can. We recommend that you use Amazon or WorldCat or similar online sources to verify your information.
    • We cannot usually obtain full issues of magazines, journals or newspapers on InterLibrary Loan. However, we can often obtain photocopies of specific articles. Please provide as much information as you can: title of magazine, volume number, date, author of article and page numbers. Often, the lending library will provide the article as a PDF file, and we can simply e-mail it to you. You may want to check our Online Services link (at the top right of every page on our web site) to see if the full text is available online before requesting as an ILL.
    • You must have a valid MLN card to place and claim an ILL request. Your MLN record must have a valid street address and phone number. An e-mail address is extremely helpful for the back and forth that is frequently involved in the ILL process.
    • We will not request ILL's for you if you have lost or overdue materials or fines totaling $5.00 or more on your library record.
    • We only allow you to have 6 outstanding ILL transactions active at any one time. This means a combined total of items still in the request process as well as borrowed items in hand.
    • We make a good faith effort to obtain ILL requests for patrons and usually can. However, sometimes we cannot find a lender. Some libraries will not lend certain items because of age, condition, or local demand; and some libraries will not lend anything.
      Fees:
    • ILL items may involve postage fees and service fees charged by the lending library. We must recover these costs.
    • We never request ILL items if it will involve a fee unless you approve the fee first. Our ILL Request form asks if you are willing to pay fees, and at what level.
    • If you are willing to pay a fee, make sure that you indicate that when you request an item.
    • If you are not willing to pay any fees, we can only request from other Massachusetts libraries who are on the state delivery system. Otherwise, there will always be at least a minimal postage fee.
    • If you are willing to pay a minimal postage fee (usually $3.00), you greatly expand your chances of getting an item. We can often find a free lender from out of state, but you must agree to pay the return postage.
    • Some lenders charge an ILL fee for the service. This service fee is usually in the range of $5 to $20, but can be higher.
    • Even if you agree to pay a fee, we always try to obtain it from a free in-state lender first. Next we try for postage-only out of state lenders. We request from lenders who charge service fees only as a last resort.
    • Library of Congress is a lender of last resort. It is willing to lend items only if no other libraries can. It does not currently charge a lending fee, but it requires that we return items registered and insured, so the postage fee is usually quite high.
    • Fees must be paid in cash or by check at the time you pick up the ILL item. If you do not pick up the item or refuse to pay the fee, we will add the fee to your MLN record. Remember, once we request an item for you, we are on the hook for fees and postage expenses whether you use the item or not.
      Due dates, renewals, overdue fines and lost ILL items:
    • The due date is set by the owning (lending) library.
    • To request a renewal of an ILL item, please call 617-730-2352 or better yet, (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) at least 5 days before the due date. We must contact the owning library to request the renewal and obtain a new due date. In many cases, the owner refuses to renew. Until you receive a new due date from us, assume that the due date on the item is operative.
    • Overdue fine is $1.00 per day to a maximum of $15.00, at which point you will be billed for the cost of the item plus any lost item charges assessed by the owning library. ILL lenders often charge a hefty fine ($50-$100 is not unusual) in addition to the replacement cost of the item.