Interlibrary Loans

You can generally borrow books, magazine articles, DVDs and music CDs from participating libraries.

You can only borrow items that aren't in our collection already, so please check our catalogue or ask library staff before you make an interlibrary loan request. 

You can't borrow items through interlibrary loans that are:

• in our collection, but currently out on loan
• on order, being processed or in transit
• in our reference collection.

In most cases you'll be able to take interlibrary items home, but some libraries may only lend items on the condition that they're used in the library. We'll let you know if this applies to your request.

Delivery

You should usually allow at least two weeks for an interlibrary loan item to arrive. In some cases, it may take longer.

We try to supply items to you as quickly as possible, but we can't guarantee delivery dates.

Loan periods

The length of time you can keep an item is set by the library it belongs to. Usually loan periods will be between one and four weeks. The library that owns the item can also recall it at any time before the due date.

We'll let you know how long you can keep the item when you collect it.

Renewals

In some cases you may be able to renew an interlibrary loan, as long as you make the request before the due date. This will depend on the policy of the library that owns the item, and whether other people are waiting to borrow it.

Please ask us if you'd like to renew an interlibrary loan.

If you want a photocopy of a magazine article or document held by another library, a fee of $16.50 will usually apply.

You will also have to sign a copyright declaration when you pick up the article.

Please ask our staff for more details about getting copies of articles.

Fees apply to all interlibrary loans. You will only need to pay the fee when the items is supplied.

General current fees for interlibrary loans are:

• $8.00 per item for most items available from another public library
• $16.50 per item for items only held by the National Library, private or academic items
• $16.50 per article for photocopied magazine articles or documents.

If your request is urgent, you may need to pay additional fees to cover the cost of a courier service. Ask library staff if you want to request urgent delivery of an interlibrary loan.

Payment methods

You can pay for your interlibrary loan in cash at all of our libraries, and by EFTPOS at Wollongong, Corrimal, Dapto and Thirroul.